Online Network For Recovering Addicts Attracts Over 10,000 Unique Users A Month

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 12 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Recovery Network launched on November 5th 2007 and is the first fully interactive, social networking internet platform in the UK to provide real time education and social assistance to anyone affected by addiction. Currently, the website is helping to support an online community of over 3,000 registered members and attracts over 10,000 unique users every month. Its' members consist of addicts wishing to confront their addiction for the first time, recovering addicts and the friends and family members of both. This is an especially pertinent subject when taking into consideration that 1 in 4 people in the UK are affected by an addiction either directly or indirectly.

The Recovery Network is the brainchild of Dan Butcher, a recovering cocaine addict who came close to losing everything because of his illness, and who as a result sought to find a way of helping other addicts who are not able to receive the same levels of treatment and assistance. Dan Butcher comments: "Each month we're seeing more and more individuals join the site which is great news. Even more interesting is the rise in the number of unique users browsing the site. It's a big step for someone to admit they have a problem and an even bigger one to actively seek help."

TRN's members are able to remain anonymous and join online discussion forums, post video or text blogs and use the addiction specific chat rooms either via webcam, voice or text. In a similar fashion to platforms such as Facebook, each member is able to build their own support network of friends whether they are an addict, family member or friend. Dan wants to change the public's perception of addiction, helping people to realise that it is an illness, not a weakness. He also recognises what he put his wife and children through during his addiction and has created a place where family and loved ones can turn for support and communicate with other family members in a similar situation.

Dan Butcher, the founder of The Recovery Network has just been nominated for a Tackling Drugs Changing Lives award, the winners are to be announced on the 21st of Oct.

The Recovery Network is designed to compliment rather than replace existing therapy, and to raise awareness amongst family and friends, providing support for anyone who has a loved one suffering from addiction.

The Recovery Network offers a support environment for those affected by addictions such as Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Sex & Love, Eating Disorders, Co Dependency. It will soon be adding social networking and education areas for other mental health issues such as Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders. The Recovery Network website can be found at http://www.trntv.co.uk

The Recovery Network