I’m using the same brain science that kept people drinking to help them stay sober. And it’s working.
When my mentor asked what I wanted my recovery program to be back in Spring, I said “fun?” She didn’t flinch - even though most people think fun and sobriety work are contradictory. But that single word unlocked everything I’d been missing in traditional approaches.
I needed to add lightheartedness into the mix. My background in advertising and design taught me that people engage differently when there’s joy in the process, not just grinding through serious work. That’s when I discovered that elements of gamification could redirect the same neural pathways that drove drinking toward healing activities.
The Problem with Traditional Sobriety Programs
Most recovery programs take one of two approaches: either deadly serious clinical work, or superficial motivation that feels disconnected from the actual neuroscience of addiction and healing.
What’s missing is strategic joy - encouragement that understands both the gravity of recovery and the human need for positive reinforcement. We know that dopamine pathways have been hijacked by substance use. Why not deliberately engage those same pathways in service of healing?
The Science of Strategic Rewards (And Why This Isn’t Just Another Addiction)
Here’s where I need to address the elephant in the room: Yes, I’m using the same psychological principles that slot machines use. I’m deliberately employing variable ratio schedules - unpredictable rewards that create behaviours which are, as research confirms, “hard to extinguish.”
But here’s the crucial difference, and why this is ethical: This is a course, not a slot machine.
Members can’t “try again” or “play” for more badges. There’s no mechanism for compulsive engagement. They can’t spend money to get more rewards. They simply progress through their recovery journey, and recognition appears at strategic moments I’ve carefully designed based on my experience in recovery work.
I’m not replacing one addictive behaviour with another. I’m redirecting existing neural pathways toward health. Neuro-plasticity research shows the brain can reorganise and form new connections that support healthier behaviours - this adaptability is a cornerstone of recovery. When someone sees their streak counter or earns recognition, I’m activating dopamine pathways that addiction exploited. But now these pathways reward healthy choices.
The difference is profound: praise as reward is healthier than money or alcohol.
How It Works in Practice: Inside Phenomenal
Phenomenal - my sobriety program - has several gamified threads, but they’re always used with the aim of building connections and increasing motivation. I don’t just hand out meaningless digital stickers. Every badge becomes a personal conversation starter.
Take the System Navigator Badge. When someone completes the preparation module (where they learn how to use the program effectively), they receive this message:
“Knowledge is power, and you just powered up your recovery journey. You didn’t just read about badges and points—you invested in understanding how to make every tool available support your sobriety.”
The intention is simple: I’m reframing their action of reading into evidence of commitment to transformation. The psychology is deliberate: I’m building a bond early, forming a connection between them and me as the course creator. But more importantly, I’m helping them see their own agency.
This completes the circle: their effort, my recognition, their continued motivation.
The Power of Strategic Surprise
Here’s where it gets interesting: I deliberately withhold badges sometimes.
Not every lesson gets one. I’ve analysed the program and identified key practices and interventions where recognition matters most. The unpredictability increases engagement and attention. Every time members receive an award, they’re genuinely surprised - and that surprise deepens their investment in the work.
But I’m careful about when and how. Research on dopamine recovery suggests that in sustained sobriety, neural systems can show significant healing, though timelines vary by individual, substance used, and duration of addiction. Phenomenal’s recognition system supports this genuine neurological healing by providing positive reinforcement during the vulnerable early months when natural dopamine function is still recovering.
The Ethical Safeguards Built Into the System
I’ve thought deeply about what could go wrong. Here’s how I’ve built in protections:
When streaks break: The system acknowledges it without shame. “Life happens. What matters is that you’re here now.” I’ve seen members reset their counters and return stronger, supported by community rather than abandoned by an unforgiving algorithm.
Performance pressure: Not everyone responds well to achievement systems. Some people in recovery have trauma around performance and failure. That’s why badges are supplementary, never mandatory. The core healing work happens regardless of gamification.
Obsessive engagement: Because there’s no way to “earn more” through repeated actions, the system naturally limits itself. Once you’ve completed a module, that’s it. There’s no grinding, no compulsive checking.
Community shame: Achievements are shared carefully. We celebrate progress without creating hierarchies. Someone on day 3 receives the same quality of recognition as someone on day 300.
The Evidence From Real Recovery Journeys
I’m seeing measurable impacts. Members who engage with the badge system show increased participation in community discussions. Streak counters help build consistency - not through fear of breaking them, but through visible evidence of their own commitment.
More importantly, the confidence shows up beyond the digital space. Members report feeling more capable of handling triggers because they’ve built tangible proof of their resilience. As one member told me: “Every time I see that badge, I remember I’m someone who shows up for myself.”
The recognition system creates momentum that extends into daily life. It’s not masking symptoms - it’s facilitating actual behaviour change that supports neurological healing.
How to Engage With Achievement Systems Healthily
If you’re using gamified sobriety tools, here’s how to make them work for you:
Focus on progress, not perfection. View badges as evidence of your commitment, not just rewards. Read the personal messages carefully - they’re designed to help you see your own transformation.
Use streak counters wisely. They build consistency, but don’t let a broken streak derail your journey. The system serves you, not the other way around.
Connect through achievement. When you see others’ badges, let it strengthen your own commitment. Recognition becomes more powerful when it builds community.
Remember the real goal. Digital achievements are supportive tools. The ultimate goal is building a new life in recovery, not collecting awards.
Pay attention to your relationship with the system. If you find yourself obsessing over badges, feeling shame about “falling behind,” or experiencing anxiety around achievement - step back. These are signs the tool isn’t serving your recovery.
The Real Transformation
Gamification in sobriety programs works because it honours both the seriousness of the work and the human need for encouragement. I’m not trivialising recovery - I’m making the journey more engaging by celebrating every step forward.
The science supports this approach when it’s implemented thoughtfully. But more importantly, it transforms how people see their own capability for change. They’re not just collecting achievements. They’re building evidence of their own resilience, creating a toolkit for transformation.
Yes, I’m using the same brain science that addiction exploited. But I’m using it to heal rather than harm. I’m helping people discover that the strength they need - the capacity for change, for growth, for sustained commitment—was always within them.
They just needed a system that helped them see it.
And sometimes, that system needs to be fun.
