A study released by Recovery.org in late July 2015 called “Socially sober” examined 79,000 Instagram posts in the United States and found #soberlife was far and away the most popular way that people tagged their recovery photos. In the course of the analysis, it was mentioned 32,707 times, and a current Instagram search turns up more than 236,000 results.
When it comes to recovering from substance abuse and dependence, community can be key to achieving and sustaining sobriety. High levels of social support are a powerful factor in recovery, associated with less time spent in rehabilitation centers and an easier reintegration into society. 47 percent of substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States host self-help groups, and nearly 54 percent offer peer support programs; these services can help recovering substance users share their experiences and find strength in one another.
Kevin Curtis is the president and co-founder of Sober Movement, an online community for struggling and recovering addicts, and saw firsthand the way social media played a role in his own recovery.
I tried to get sober millions of times before I stuck with it,” he said.
Once I had my moment of clarity, I knew I was done, I was finished.”