This is great...IF you're lucky enough to have an iPhone...what about us "poor" people that stick to the Verizon network (or other network) and don't have access to an iPhone?

Hopefully, someone will develop a similar application hooking people up with secular supports (since Twelve-Step recovery doesn't work for everybody). Any SMART Recovery or SOS geeks out there who wanna make a buck? ;^)

This is a excellent scam to generate money from a captive audience especially from those who ashame to say who they are.

I guess people who don't have an iPhone will have to get a phone number by asking someone at a meeting.

What a great idea ! It's nice to know that there is now a way for people in ineed of support to connect outside of meetings. Recovery can be scary for some. I'm glad that I now have this tool to use to help me !

I can not tell you how grateful I am for this new application! I am a physician and need an easy anonymous way to keep in touch with other recovering addicts. The anonymity and the convenience are exactly what I need - and support right with me all of the time! THANK YOU

I think there are a few people who are experiencing the "dry drunk" syndrom and have issues with anger. This is another tool to keep people connected to each other for support. Thank God someone out there is compassionate enough to care about others. $5 is not too much to stay clean and sober and have a good live. And by the way, ashamed is not what is happening. some professionals would never come into recovery if they thought they would lose everything and when they are ready to let the world benefit from their experience they tend to have a larger impact than people who are angry that they have be clean and sober.

This is wonderful and I will add it to my ipod touch asap. Thank for the info, as usual

I was just at a PI quarterly meeting where the subject of anonymity at the level of internet was discussed. You are not anonymous using your iphone, folks. Sorry to say....There's a reason, and a good one, to maintain your anonymity, and its your recovery. Check the traditions.

I'm sorry, but I find this appalling! It's a money making opportunity that goes against the traditions. In addition, it keeps people from meeting face to face, which has been proven the best connection tool in recovery. We’re in the 21st century . . . anyone who claims to have to keep “hiding” their addiction anonymously doesn’t “get it”. I have pity on you for excuses. I’ll pray for you too.

Thanks TJ for a well said rebuttal to the "ashamed" comment... and I certainly have spent more then $5.00 to connect with my drug of choice...this is a nice alternative...for those without iphone many 12 steps have online chat rooms that you can connect with on your web browser...or the old fashioned way of getting phone numbers to call & text when in need.

There are many reasons health professionals stay away from meetings, especially when the most convenient ones are near where you work as a substance abuse counselor. There used to be a meeting for those of us in the field, but it no longer exists. Does anyone know of one in Manhattan, NYC? I wish I had an iphone and I don't mind someone making a buck from my disease! Y not? I make mine that way! BTW AA, etc is a secular program

I have been using this app for a little more than two weeks and it has literally saved my life. I have to disagree that it is hardly a money making opportunity for the creator. Thank fully there was someone on this planet who thought of another way for us addicts to come out of isolation and get help. Sometimes meetings are just too frightening, this app gives all addicts another choice. Thank you ann-e !!!!

Bill W sold Big Books door to door. We pay phone companies and internet providers to keep us connected to our sponsees and to on line meetings, way more than a one time 4.99 fee! We buy recovery literature that is approved and that is not approved. We buy bumper stickers with 12 Step slogans and all kinds of key rings and other "stuff" and we don't make a fuss. I have been in the rooms for 36 years so I guess that makes me an old timer. I work the steps like noone's business and I study the traditions and believe in them. I downloaded this app and I can tell you that noone is going to make money here. I am a software developer and know what this cost to put together and I don't see any adds for dating services or casinos on the website or on the app, to help recover the cost. At 4.99 with Apple taking a percentage, there aren't enough iPhone users in program. But there are enough of us to make it work for the community. This application was not created for money. My criticism is that the text boxes are too small and there are a few other minor problems that need to be fixed. I am sure they will be. Another problem is that it is new and therefore there aren't enough people on yet. That should change over time. In my humble opinion this is the best use of technology I have ever seen and I am in the business! There are thousands of apps out there and this is the first one that was made with us in mind. I will continue to go to my face to face meeting and I also have added a new way to connect with recovering addicts with this app. In fact, I just supported someone from Hong Kong and I am thousands of miles away. What a feeling!

For those of you who are so sceptical and mistrusting of the motives and application for this application, I strongly suggest you actually learn about the application and it's creator. You can do this at www.ann-e.com. You will see that she explicitly states that this application is NOT, in any way, a replacement for face to face meetings - it is to supplement your regular meetings, and whatever face to face support to choose to get. She believes that there is NO replacement for face to face meetings. You can read about her motives and inspiration for creating this application. She is not motivated by greed or to exploit. She is a recovery addict herself, and inspired by her own experience and by her witnessing of other people's pains in dealing with their addictions, and she wants to HELP other addicts on their difficult journey. $5 for an application that does so many things, and with such a beneficial use, is NOT a money grab. This application allows you to connect with others, through text or by phone with a conference number. It allows you to locate the people you are talking to, if they allow it. And it helps you to find meetings. This, for $5, is easily worth it. There are comments here by other people who have bought the app, and clearly love it. I am one of those people, and I believe that there is so potential for this app to do amazing things for recovering addicts.

Lots of people without iPhones might have an iPod Touch. Check out the app "101 Doses of Recovery" also.