Addiction Policy Forum

What Addiction Policy Forum does

Addiction Policy Forum (APF) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 and headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland, whose stated mission is to eliminate addiction as a major health problem. The organization delivers a portfolio of free, evidence-based services targeting three primary user groups: families and caregivers of people with substance use disorders, healthcare and treatment professionals, and educators, with secondary audiences in child welfare, policymaking, and individuals seeking crisis support. APF operates a free confidential phone helpline staffed by trained addiction counselors, runs the enCompass comprehensive family-navigation training program, maintains the nationally recognized Responding to Addiction instructor certification program, and publishes the Addiction A-Z educational resource library alongside self-paced online courses.

The organization's underlying technology stack is light by enterprise standards: content is delivered through a Wix-hosted website, with free downloadable guides, video explainers hosted on a YouTube channel, webinars, and asynchronous eCourses distributed via the training-courses portal. APF's distribution is amplified through a deep partnership network that includes the NIH HEAL Initiative (HEAL Connections Center), Gallup, the University of Delaware, Stanford REACH Lab, NACoA, JCOIN, Recovery Ohio, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and integration with the federally operated 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. These partnerships function as force multipliers, allowing an 11-50 person staff to achieve national reach and to publish peer-reviewed research.

APF's business model is charitable rather than commercial: there are no paid products or pricing tiers, and all services (helpline, training, certification, courses) are provided free of charge to end users. Revenue is sourced from individual donations, foundation and corporate contributions, and program-related grants from government and quasi-government partners (notably NIH HEAL); the organization prominently features a donate CTA on its website. APF is founder-led by Jessica Hulsey (Founder & Executive Director) and is independently governed with no disclosed parent company, private equity backing, or institutional investor ownership.

Name

Addiction Policy Forum

Legal name

Addiction Policy Forum

Website

https://addictionpolicy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Addiction Policy Forum is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, evidence-based addiction education, training, and a confidential helpline to families, healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Lifestyle Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAL)

Keywords

• Addiction education
• Substance use disorder
• Addiction prevention
• Recovery support
• Addiction advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, Addiction Policy Forum is funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors. The website prominently features a donate button, indicating charitable giving as a primary funding source.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Addiction Policy Forum is a nonprofit organization that provides free, evidence-based educational resources, training programs, and a confidential helpline to address substance use disorders. It serves individuals, families, and professionals through offerings such as the enCompass training, the Responding to Addiction instructor certification, the Anti-Stigma Institute, online eCourses, and integration with the 988 Crisis Lifeline. The organization's work spans addiction education, research translation, anti-stigma initiatives, and policy advocacy.

Product overview

Addiction Policy Forum is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of educational resources and support services focused on eliminating addiction as a major health problem. The organization provides a Helpline (free confidential support), enCompass (comprehensive family training), Responding to Addiction Training (instructor certification), the Anti-Stigma Institute, Addiction A-Z educational resources, online eCourses, and connections to the 988 Crisis Lifeline. These offerings work together to provide education, training, crisis support, and community resources for individuals, families, and professionals affected by substance use disorders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anti-Stigma Institute: Initiative focused on reducing stigma associated with addiction and substance use disorders
• enCompass
• Responding to Addiction

Products and services

• Addiction Policy Forum Helpline Free, confidential helpline (301-200-3658) staffed by trained addiction counselors providing support for patients, families, and providers and connecting callers to local treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and grief support resources.
• enCompass Comprehensive virtual training designed for family members to navigate addiction and help a loved one recover, covering substance use disorders, treatment options, communication strategies, and caregiver self-care.
• Responding to Addiction Training Nationally recognized instructor certification program that trains individuals to deliver evidence-based addiction education in communities across the country.
• Anti-Stigma Institute Initiative addressing stigma as a barrier to treatment, providing resources, training, and community partnerships to change public attitudes toward addiction and recovery.
• Addiction A-Z Comprehensive educational resource providing information on addiction basics, types of substance use disorders, signs and symptoms, DSM-5 criteria, treatment options, and recovery support.
• Online Courses (eCourses) Self-paced online courses covering evidence-based addiction education topics such as Alcohol Use Disorder 101 and stigma reduction.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Anti-Stigma Initiative has engaged multiple communities including Montgomery County ADAMHS to conduct stigma surveys and implement awareness campaigns.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and notable.

• GallupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Addiction Policy Forum partnered with Gallup to conduct nationally representative studies on addiction stigma. Gallup collected data from 5,250 U.S. adults through its probability-based panel in May 2025. The study examined how Americans view addiction as a health condition and its relationship to treatment attitudes.
• University of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Researchers from the University of Delaware, led by Dr. Valerie Earnshaw, supported survey design and led analyses for publication in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. The study on addiction stigma was conducted in partnership with Addiction Policy Forum and Gallup.
• Recovery OhiomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024State-wide training partnership with Recovery Ohio to deliver the enCompass comprehensive training on navigating addiction. Recovery Ohio serves as a key partner in expanding training reach within Ohio.
• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to deliver statewide virtual enCompass training designed for family members navigating addiction and helping loved ones recover.
• National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Developed a course on addressing stigma around substance use disorders in partnership with NACoA and JCOIN. The course educates individuals and families about stigma research and equips them with tools to respond.
• JCOIN (Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with JCOIN to develop and distribute the stigma course. JCOIN provides free access to the course through its platform with registration required.
• NIH HEAL Initiative / HEAL Connections CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAddiction Policy Forum is part of the HEAL Connections Center, created by the NIH HEAL Initiative to translate HEAL research into action. The partnership focuses on creating pathways to build community partnerships and support HEAL researchers in sharing results with communities and stakeholders.
• Stanford REACH LabnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher from Stanford REACH Lab contributes expert content on cannabis use disorder and youth prevention through the Ask the Expert series. The lab developed free education and awareness toolkits on substance use effects.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis LifelinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIntegration with the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The helpline provides 24/7, confidential support for people in suicidal crisis, addiction, or mental health-related distress.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Drug Free America Foundation: Prevention- and policy-focused nonprofit operating in the substance use space, comparable to APF's advocacy and prevention education activities.
• Partnership to End Addiction: National nonprofit providing support to families affected by substance use, including a helpline, parent resources, and policy advocacy — directly comparable to APF's family-facing mission and enCompass/helpline services.
• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA): National membership organization building community anti-drug coalitions and training local leaders — comparable to APF's Responding to Addiction instructor certification model and community-based stigma initiatives.
• Shatterproof: Large national nonprofit focused on addiction, including public education, family support, provider training, and anti-stigma advocacy — the closest direct functional peer to APF across helpline-adjacent, training, and policy-advocacy activities.
• National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA): Nonprofit focused on children and families affected by parental substance use — a current APF partner whose mission and family-support training overlap directly with APF's enCompass and educational portfolio.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: Recovery advocacy nonprofit organizing the recovery community and pushing evidence-based policy, closely paralleling APF's anti-stigma and policy-advocacy work.

Broad incumbents

• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Federal agency that funds and disseminates much of the national SUD education, treatment, and recovery infrastructure — a broader incumbent whose resource library and public-facing materials overlap with APF's Addiction A-Z and educational mission.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Established addiction treatment provider that also delivers professional training, publishing, and family education — broader incumbent whose professional-education and family-support offerings overlap with APF's training and resources.
• Caron Treatment Centers: Established addiction treatment provider with a substantial education, family program, and prevention arm, comparable to APF's professional training and family education but operating primarily as a clinical provider rather than a nonprofit advocacy organization.

Emerging players

• Phoenix Multisport: Recovery-focused nonprofit using fitness and community to support people in recovery — overlapping with APF's recovery-support and stigma-reduction work through a more niche, community-engagement lens.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/addictionpolicy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOfmklxbMw2jZt_7h07ejmw
• Facebookfacebook.com/addictionpolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/addiction-policy-forum
• Instagraminstagram.com/addictionpolicyforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Addiction Policy Forum