What's your mission?

Our mission is to help people live healthier and happier lives and by extension lessen the burden on those stakeholders financially, clinically or personally at risk for their care.

Do you have a core focus?

Our tools were designed to support small, private teams in helping patients or at-risk individuals across the broad spectrum of mental health issues. Our special focus is to assist those addicted to unhealthy or illegal substances get better and to support and deter our youth from going down that same path.

Is my information held confidential?

Absolutely! And we'd make three key points to strengthen this statement.

First, when you start a "Care Group," which is central to our model of family-centric recovery, we suggest you NOT name it specifically after the person you're supporting. You and the people invited onto your team already know who that person is. You might consider naming your team after an attribute those on the team will recognize, like "VT Baseball Lover."

Second, when you register in MyRecovery.Group you don't need to use your real name. You're welcome to, but not required. So while we never share this information, if you're still worried you're welcome to use a fictitious name so that concern is removed entirely. We do not, however allow inappropriate names and reserve the right to shut down accounts of this sort.

Third, when we bill for a paid service (like at-home drug testing and integrated video conferencing) we never store credit card information. That information goes directly through to the credit card processing service.

What are the main elements of your solution?

We provide:

1. Private, patient-centric collaboration spaces (i.e. "Care Groups") with features that enable support teams to work effectively together
2. Affordable, integrated, confidential and easy to use services like at-home drug-testing
3. Integrated real time communications in the form of video conferencing for Care Groups
4. A constantly growing database of local product and services providers
5. Support forums, moderated by experts, so people have the best information possible

How does at-home drug testing work?

It's simple and can be implemented immediately. The five basic steps:

1. Get Smart
2. Contact Us
3. Kits Mailed
4. You're Alerted
5. Test the Subject

1. Get Smart: There is a wealth of information online from highly reputable sources in the form of abstracts, videos, articles, blogs etc. Review as much of this as possible. We provide links to resources in this portal to get you started but urge you to use the internet extensively. As well, there are professional clinicians in virtually every part of the country. Consult with them when possible.

2. Contact Us: Fill out the basic information you find on the "Contact Us" form. Be sure to include your phone number -- we call you back promptly to get you set up. We involve a live representative in the process. Why? Because this is important and everyone needs to get it right. This helps ensure you're comfortable and get started with everything you need.

3. Test Kits Mailed: We mail you test kits, one for each of the times we're going to randomly alert you and your team over the course of twelve months. All of our test kits are FDA approved for at-home use.

4. You're Alerted: Over the course of twelve (12) months you and your Care Group are alerted depending upon the frequency you and/or your health professional advisor deem appropriate. Once per month is not uncommon but it varies with individual circumstances. We alert you the evening before the test through the website and email -- and will through our app (currently in development) when released. Having the test be initiated by us generally removes some level of conflict with the test subject -- it's not "the family" doing it, it's a third-party entity.

5. The Subject Tested: With the test kit come the manufacturer's instructions for how it works. While the process is technically quite straight-forward we suggest, especially when preparing for the first test, that you consult a trained clinician or counselor. You will be better prepared for handling whatever results occur ("positive" or "negative") as well as questions and issues which might arise. For instance, what do you do if the subject (who may be a child or a grown adult) refuses to take the test?

Should I consult a professional in addition to what I learn from this site?

YES, YES, and YES! Or several if you're uncomfortable with the first advice you're given. So much is at stake in the battle with mental health or substance abuse... they're complex and difficult journeys... and the best professionals have been down these paths many times before. Normal people haven't. Find the right professional to help you.