Free App For People Helping Individuals With Substance Use Disorder
(From the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services)
The Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) is offering a new app to support the family, friends, and loved ones of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). The Companion app, developed by CHESS Health, features a community of peers, a library of educational content, inspiration and guidance, virtual support group meetings, and additional resources.
The Companion app is a component of CHESS Health’s evidence-based eRecovery solution, which also includes the powerful Connections app for individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Hancock County launched the Connections app in 2022 to help people achieve and maintain recovery. The success of that app inspired the board to add the Companion app in October 2024. Like the Connections app, the Companion app is free and available to everyone in Hancock County.
Receiving support from a community of peers provides a great source of strength for loved ones of people with SUD, minimizing the stigma, isolation, and shame that often surround addiction. In addition, research shows people with SUD who are supported by family and friends experience multiple positive benefits, including an increased likelihood of seeking treatment and adhering to it, and lower instances of substance use, arrest, and hospitalization.
“Our intention is to equip families and friends with as many tools as possible,” said Zach Thomas, director of wellness and education at the ADAMHS board. “We know that people who support people in recovery need support themselves. This app helps us provide that for them.”
CHESS Health and Hancock County are both focused on a holistic approach to addressing the substance use disorder (SUD) crisis, said Hans Morefield, CEO of CHESS Health. “The recovery journey is a challenge for everyone involved, not just the person in recovery,” he said. “Connecting with a community of peers helps families learn from the wisdom of others who relate to what they’re going through, enabling them to build strength and resilience to keep forging ahead.”
About Hancock County ADAMHS Board
The Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) is a public body comprised of voluntary members who share a deep commitment to how our local community works together to meet the mental health and substance use treatment and recovery needs of our neighbors, friends, and loved ones. ADAMHS is the local mental health and substance use services planning authority for Hancock County.
About CHESS Health
CHESS Health is a leading provider of effective, turnkey, evidence-based digital behavioral health solutions backed by peer support. These tools empower providers, health plans, and public sector organizations to address the substance use disorder crisis by enhancing prevention, facilitating care coordination, and improving adherence to care plans and treatment retention, ultimately resulting in better health outcomes. For more information, visit www.chess.health.