In the US, alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects over 14 million people. Known for causing death and several health conditions like liver disease, stroke, and cancer, AUD is now the third leading cause of death in the country. In order to address this problem, proper rehabilitation and addiction treatment is needed.
But because smartphones are now the go-to solution for almost everything these days, they can also play a role in the recovery process. In fact, there are now several apps that can help support someone who is trying to get sober. There are apps to help you monitor your drinking or receive extra support.
These apps can help you moderate or stop your alcohol consumption, but keep in mind that these are not supposed to be replacements for actual rehab programs.
Most apps are available free of charge or for a very low flat fee on iOS and Android. Here we will talk about some app recommendations for people looking to quit drinking. They are arranged in no particular order. It’s all a matter of finding one that suits your personal needs and budget.
Apps to Help Quit Drinking: Top 10 Recommendations
Quitting drinking, and substance abuse in general, can be a challenging journey. But there are several apps available to provide support, motivation, and resources to help you achieve and maintain sobriety.
There are plenty of options out there that can work well depending on your needs and specific condition. Some apps offer support through meditation activities, monitoring alcohol consumption, and keeping track of certain milestones.
It is important, however, that you choose an app that doesn’t make any questionable health claims. There are a lot of apps that can give you support while offering transparency regarding their products and services. Some even have certifications from reputable organizations. Try to choose an app based on whether or not the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards.
Please keep in mind that the writer of this article has not tried these apps and the information presented below are purely research-based. Patients will still have to make their own assessments of certain apps, and reading product reviews in the app store may go a long way.
With that out of the way, here are some popular apps designed to assist you in quitting drinking.
I Am Sober
I Am Sober is a simple and user-friendly app that lets you track your sobriety, set goals, and receive daily pledges and motivations. It also includes a private journal feature to help you reflect on your journey.
This motivational app is free and available on iOS and Android. With it, you can track the hours, minutes, and seconds that you’ve been sober, keeping a record of your total number of days without alcohol.
The daily notifications are great because they can help you quit drinking by staying focused on your recovery. It even sends special notifications and alerts when you reach certain milestones. I Am Sober even lets you add memorable photos for each of those milestones so you can share and save your achievements.
It’s a great way to keep you motivated throughout your recovery journey, and it’s no surprise it is one of the most popular apps out there that help you quit drinking. On top of all that it even tracks money saved due to your sobriety. It is a fully equipped app that comes with a milestone tracker and withdrawal timeline.
While this app is free, there is an option to upgrade to Sober Plus for premium features like tracking other addictions, connecting with communities, and creating groups.
Sobriety Counter
Sobriety Counter is an app that tracks your progress in real-time and provides you with various statistics and rewards to keep you motivated. It also offers a “panic button” feature for moments of temptation or crisis.
Like the first app, this one is free and available for Android and iOS devices. Its goal is to gamify your drinking journey until you can quit drinking altogether. It has a dashboard that shows how much money you have saved by not drinking, and it even lets you set up a treat as a goal for your recovery. The app will keep showing you a personal image with the duration until you can reach your target.
Sobriety Counter shows how quitting drinking can improve your health, such as your cell regeneration, blood circulation, and your mental health. It even has games to help you distract yourself from alcohol cravings. By distracting you and telling you about your health improvements on a day to day basis, you can stay sober for longer. It has accountability tips and exercises that help you stay on track.
Sober Grid
So if Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Instagram are social networks that help you connect with your friends, Sober Grid is a social network for people in recovery. It connects you with others who are also working on their sobriety, allowing you to share experiences, find local support, and stay accountable.
It is a free virtual community that is available on iOS and Android. It lets you join a community where you can give and receive support from others in recovery.
If you need to speak to someone right away, there is a “Burning Desire” button that lets you reach out to the virtual community for support. It also lets you find friends while you are traveling because the network lets you connect with people from anywhere in the world.
Like other social networks, it even has a newsfeed that allows people to share their experiences, challenges, triumphs, and just their thoughts related to addiction, sobriety, and recovery.
This app is free to download, but there are in-app purchases and memberships starting at $3.99 per month which are completely optional.
Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Twenty-Four Hours a Day is an app that provides daily meditations and inspirational readings to support your recovery journey. It is based on the book “Twenty-Four Hours a Day” by Richmond Walker, which offers daily meditations and reflections to help people stay sober and maintain their sobriety. This book is considered a classic in addiction recovery literature.
The core feature of the app is the 366 daily meditations and reflections that can help you focus on your sobriety goals. These meditations and personalized messages are motivational messages that can inspire you on your recovery journey.
It is also free and available on iOS and Android devices. Users can set up daily reminders to receive notifications with these daily meditations and messages. Some versions of the app even allow users to track their progress in terms of days, months, and years of sobriety. There are even versions of the app that include forums, chat rooms, or the ability to share their thoughts and experiences with others.
All of these features can serve as helpful motivators in the long and difficult journey to lasting sobriety.
Nomo
Nomo provides customizable sobriety clocks and journals in addition to having a community of users who can offer support and encouragement. You can set up multiple sobriety clocks for different substances if you have more than one addiction.
This free app is available on Android and iOS and can help users track time and money they saved by staying sober. The app gives you a chip to celebrate your achievements and milestones when you stay sober for a certain period. Nomo tracks how long you’ve been sober in terms of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Just like other sobriety apps, you can use this app to share your successes and new chips on social media.
Overall, Nomo is a quit drinking app that offers a simple yet customized sobriety tracking clock.
AlcoDroid Alcohol Tracker
AlcoDroid Alcohol Tracker is a free app that is only available on Android. It is designed to help recovering individuals monitor their alcohol consumption, set goals for moderation or sobriety, and track their progress over time.
It’s best for estimating your blood alcohol content (BAC). Users can input information about their drinks, such as the type of alcohol, quantity, and time of consumption. The app can then calculate estimated BAC based on this information. It also provides insights into the user’s drinking habits.
It works as an alcohol diary and calculator. With AlcoDroid Alcohol Tracker, users could set personal goals for alcohol consumption and track their progress towards these goals by recording your alcohol intake.
12 Steps Companion AA Big Book
This app is based on the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Big Book and includes the full text of the book along with additional resources, speaker tapes, and daily meditations. It’s a valuable tool for those who are following the AA program.
This app is not free, and it costs $2.99 on the App Store and $1.99 on Google Play. This includes more than 60 stories and helps you track your sobriety at the same time. Users also get access to morning and night prayers, notes, and 12 Steps promises on hope, strength, and experience. The user can also share these on social media.
The app’s dashboard shows how long a person has been sober, including the years, months, days, and hours. They see their progress every time they open the app.
SoberTool
SoberTool is an app designed to help people in recovery overcome addiction and maintain sobriety using a variety of features and tools like daily check-ins, motivational quotes, and progress tracking.
It’s free, available on iOS and Android, and is best for in-the-moment support for when you are struggling with cravings. SoberTool connects users with a support network, including friends, family, or sponsors, to provide encouragement and accountability.
It also features motivating messages for when you are battling the urge to drink and can’t get in-person support.
Users can also use SoberTool to monitor their progress over time, which can be motivating and help them see how far they’ve come in their sobriety journey.
Drinker’s Helper
This app also helps you cut back or quit drinking by giving you tracking tools and some extra motivation on your journey. Drinker’s Helper is free but only available to iOS users.
On this app, you can see which strategies have been working in your community. You can use it to learn from other people and use that information to monitor or control your own drinking habits. It’s perfect for getting insight into your drinking and even learning skills for better habits.
Ria Health
Finally, Ria Health is a subscription-based telehealth platform that offers personalized alcohol treatment plans. It provides access to medical professionals, coaching, and digital tools to help you reduce or quit drinking. It is an all-in-one holistic support app for managing alcohol use, and it is available on both iOS and Android devices.
While Ria’s membership program is not free, it is on the more affordable side. It is a comprehensive sobriety app that gives you a lot of tools to help you succeed in your sobriety journey. It gives you access to online support groups, recovery coaching, anti-craving prescriptions, and 24/7 support. It even ships a Bluetooth breathalyzer for each member, allowing your medical team to track and adjust your treatment as needed.
What to Look for in an Anti-Alcoholism App
Choosing an anti-alcoholism app can be an effective step toward managing alcohol addiction and maintaining sobriety. However, not all apps are created equal, and it’s important to select one that aligns with your needs and preferences.
There are many key factors to consider when choosing a quit drinking app, such as price, content, and platform. You want the app to be accessible first and foremost. So while many apps are free to download, they may not be available on your device or they may have in-app purchases that you want to know about ahead of time. You don’t want the features you need the most to be locked behind a paywall.
While some anti-alcoholism apps are free, others may require a subscription or one-time purchase. Consider your budget and whether the cost is reasonable given the features and support provided.
Look for apps that are developed in consultation with addiction specialists, therapists, or medical professionals. Apps that have input from experts in the field are more likely to provide evidence-based strategies and resources.
Effective anti-alcoholism apps should offer tools and strategies to help you prevent relapse. This may include coping skills, triggers identification, and techniques to manage cravings.
Daily tracking, reminders, and notifications are some must-have features for a quit drinking app. These can be instrumental in helping you stay on track. Look for apps that provide reminders for meetings, therapy sessions, or other activities that support your recovery.
Many people in recovery find it helpful to connect with others who are going through similar challenges, so looking for apps that offer access to a supportive community or forums for sharing experiences and seeking advice is a good idea.
An anti-alcoholism app should offer educational resources, such as articles, videos, or podcasts, to help you better understand addiction and recovery.
There are also some qualities that are just nice to have, improving the overall user experience. For example, a nice, user-friendly interface can make the app easier to use and navigate. You don’t want to struggle with the app itself when you’re already dealing with the challenges of addiction.
And because everyone’s journey to sobriety is unique, you should also try to look for highly customizable apps. Seek apps that allow you to set personalized goals and track your progress. Personalization can help the app better cater to your specific needs.
Ensure that the app you’re choosing takes your privacy seriously and has strong security measures in place to protect your personal data. This is particularly important given the sensitive nature of addiction.
When in doubt, check user reviews and ratings in app stores or online communities to get a sense of how effective and user-friendly the app is. Keep in mind that a mobile app is not a replacement for a complete treatment program for alcohol addiction, but it can still help you with your sobriety journey.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
In 2019, an estimated 14.5 million people aged 12 years and over had AUD, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Some of the most common causes of alcohol-related death are liver disease, heart disease, stroke, liver cirrhosis, mouth and throat cancer, liver cancer, cardiac dysrhythmia, hypertension, and breast cancer.
It’s not easy to quit drinking alcohol. In fact, it can even be dangerous as alcohol can cause severe and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms include sweating, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fever, and fatigue.
Delirium Tremens (DTs) are by far the most severe and life-threatening alcohol withdrawal symptoms. They typically occur within 48 to 72 hours after the last drink and can include: profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, severe agitation, tremors, seizures, delusions, paranoia, and changes in heart rate. It is not recommended to quit alcohol cold turkey.
Take note that the severity of withdrawal can be influenced by factors such as the amount and duration of alcohol use, individual differences, and whether a person has a history of previous withdrawal episodes.
Because of the potential dangers, it is therefore important to seek proper addiction treatment for alcohol addiction.
Treatment for alcohol addiction typically involves a combination of therapies and medical interventions. Mobile apps only play a small part of this.
Here are some key components of alcohol addiction treatment:
Assessment and Evaluation: The first step in treating alcohol addiction is a thorough assessment and evaluation by a healthcare professional. This helps determine the severity of the addiction and any co-occurring mental or physical health issues.
Detoxification (Detox): For those with severe alcohol dependence, medical detox may be necessary to safely manage withdrawal symptoms. It involves gradually lowering the patient’s alcohol intake while their symptoms are managed by medical professionals. Detox should be done under medical supervision to ensure the safety of the patient.
Medication: Some medications can be prescribed to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Common medications for alcohol addiction include acamprosate, naltrexone, and disulfiram. The choice of medication depends on the individual’s specific needs and medical history.
Behavioral Therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and Contingency Management, help patients recognize and address the root causes of their addiction including unhealthy thought patterns, self-medication, personal issues, co-occurring mental health disorders, etc.
Individual Counseling: One-on-one counseling with a trained therapist or counselor can help recovering individuals address underlying issues, develop coping skills, and set recovery goals.
Group Therapy: Group therapy sessions provide peer support and allow patients to share their experiences, challenges, and successes with others who are going through similar struggles.
Family Therapy: Involving the family in the treatment process can help improve communication, understanding, and support for the individual in recovery.
12-Step Programs: Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offer a structured, peer-support approach to recovery.
Holistic Approaches: Some people may benefit from holistic treatments like mindfulness meditation, yoga, and acupuncture as complementary therapies to support their recovery.
Aftercare and Continuing Support: Recovery is an ongoing process, and after completing formal treatment, individuals benefit from ongoing support through aftercare programs, support groups, and regular check-ins with healthcare providers.
The time it takes to recover from alcoholism can vary significantly from person to person and depends on several factors. Recovery is a complex and individualized process after all. In general, some people may experience noticeable improvements in a matter of weeks or months, while others may take years to achieve sustained recovery.
The most important thing is to stay committed to the process, seek help when needed, and not get discouraged by setbacks.
Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to alcohol addiction treatment. Treatment plans should be tailored to the person’s unique needs and circumstances. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, look for a rehab center near you today.
