KeepSober was formed in 2013 and funded by its founder Stan Bielak. Stan is a successful tech executive and entrepreneur. Recovery from alcoholism was his opportunity to give back.

While in rehabs, Stan realized that most rehab and 12 step programs’ success rates are small. Addiction is a disease best handled by avoiding it. However people at risk usually don’t say “Hey, I have a problem - get me some help”. The good news is help is often on the way via courts, employers, associations/unions and, family and friends that mandate them to an early intervention program. The process is sometimes called Screening, Referral to Treatment and Brief Intervention, SBIRT.

In a previous venture Stan formed an organization that provided soft skills training for corporations and modeled KeepSober using his business and recovery experiences. Soft skills training is behavioral training. What are the business rules of training?

Content must be worthwhile and compelling

Keep the users engaged; make sure they are not zoned out

It must have measurable outcomes

Training is a process and not an event - it needs to be drilled in.

This is a world where people stay connected using the internet. Studies have shown that people are more honest over the internet than face to face. Plus there are real world concerns such as would you want your 16 year old daughter in a place with adults? How would you connect a person whose native language isn’t English?

For more advanced addictions, studies have also shown that intensive outpatient treatment is as good as inpatient. Neither have great outcomes (no one publishes outcomes - there is an anecdotal number of 6% who are still clean and sober after 6 months).

The objections of a potential addict are easier to overcome with an online program; totally anonymous(does an airline pilot want to show up at a group meeting?), no schedule interruptions, can participate anywhere and anytime and connect with the right therapist (how about a female hispanic therapist for a young woman getting caught on the school bus?).

Capturing metrics for Program effectiveness is a lot better with online programs. Standardized measurements can be put in place to make it better.

Deployments are measured in days and weeks, not months and months.

This is a world where people stay connected using the internet. Studies have shown that people are more honest over the internet than face to face. Plus there are real world concerns such as would you want your 16 year old daughter in a place with adults? How would you connect a person whose native language isn’t English?

Initial content was video captured at substance abuse lectures; stages of addiction and recovery options. Stan cooperated with Maryland’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration and Motor Vehicles Administration to produce the first state approved online DUI/DWI education program, which is also an ASAM Level 0.5 Early Intervention program. Two years later, Pennsylvania approved KeepSober for its 12 hour Alcohol Highway Safety School. Additionally, KeepSober provided programs that were funded for gambling, opioids and recovery events.

KeepSober was initially funded through the founder’s checkbook. After a few years of operations, it was formed into Keep Sober Inc.. The Keep Sober Foundation Inc. was formed in 2020 and has received the IRS’ letter of determination for 501(c)3 exemption.

Think of KeepSober as three independent entities:

The non profit Foundation owns content, templates and processes that enable rapid and low cost program development. All content is provided for free. See https://www.youtube.com/c/keepsober.

The Inc. is an S corp, a for profit company. The Inc. is applying for Benefit Corporation status. The Inc. is not a sole source provider of content deployment or technical support. The Foundation’s board must approve of any contracts with the Inc.

KeepSober.net is a deployment website for substance abuse programs. It is not a legal entity. Any contracts with the Foundation or the Inc. may use the KeepSober.net website.