SMART Recovery Global
SMART Recovery International coordinates a global network of approximately 3,500 free weekly mutual support meetings across 35 countries, delivering an evidence-based CBT-grounded addiction recovery program to individuals, families, justice-involved populations, and government health partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SMART Recovery Global does
SMART Recovery International is a US-based non-profit mutual support organization (legal entity: SMART Recovery International Holdings LLC) that coordinates the global delivery of the SMART Recovery 4-Point Program, an evidence-based addiction recovery methodology grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), Motivational Interviewing, and the Stages of Change model. The organization was founded in 1994 by Dr. Joe Gerstein at Harvard University, with the international governing body (SMART Recovery International) formed in 2018 to coordinate a network of 16+ national affiliates and approximately 3,500 free weekly meetings across 35 countries. Core offerings include free peer-led weekly meetings (face-to-face and online), the registered SMART Recovery 4-Point Program framework, self-help manuals in multiple languages, paid facilitator training programs, the SMART Track smartphone app for routine outcome monitoring, a Family & Friends program, and the Global Research Advisory Network.
The organization serves individuals with substance dependencies and problematic behaviours (drugs, alcohol, gambling, cigarettes, food), their families, justice-involved populations, and culturally diverse communities including Indigenous groups. It also partners with government health departments (e.g., Punjab, India), harm-reduction facilities (e.g., Uniting MSIC, Australia), and academic researchers. Technology is delivered through online meeting platforms, a global meeting finder across country-specific affiliate websites, the SMART Track app, the SMART Recovery YouTube channel (Tips & Tools video series), and a podcast distribution on major platforms.
Revenue is generated through donations, grants, government funding, merchandise and literature sales via the SMART Recovery Global Store, and facilitator training fees. Meetings are free, ensuring zero-cost access for participants. The organization is currently seeking a new Chief Executive Officer to lead global growth and innovation, with Jennifer Johannesen serving as Chair of the Board. Operations are anchored by a small central team of approximately 24 employees, supplemented by thousands of trained volunteer facilitators globally.
SMART Recovery Global firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMART Recovery Global
- Legal name
- SMART Recovery International Holdings LLC
- Website
- https://smartrecoveryinternational.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SMART Recovery International coordinates a global network of approximately 3,500 free weekly mutual support meetings across 35 countries, delivering an evidence-based CBT-grounded addiction recovery program to individuals, families, justice-involved populations, and government health partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMART Recovery Global industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Addiction Recovery Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)
Keywords
SMART Recovery Global business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: The organization operates as a non-profit relying on donations, grants, and government funding to sustain free meeting operations and training programs.
- Merchandise and Literature Sales: Sales of SMART Recovery handbooks, pamphlets, journals, program-related literature, and clothing through the SMART Recovery Global Store.
- Facilitator Training: Revenue from comprehensive facilitator training programs delivered in interactive online or individual formats for those wanting to start SMART meetings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Meeting Attendance |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | SMART Recovery Store - Literature and Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
SMART Recovery Global product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMART Recovery Global provides a free, evidence-based addiction recovery program built on the proprietary SMART Recovery 4-Point Program® framework, delivered through approximately 3,000–3,500 peer-led weekly meetings (face-to-face and online) across more than 20–35 countries. The organization also sells recovery manuals, journals, and program literature, and offers paid facilitator training programs that enable individuals and professionals to start SMART meetings in their communities.
Product overview
SMART Recovery Global operates as a global mutual support group organization offering an evidence-based recovery program grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The core offering consists of the SMART Recovery 4-Point Program delivered through approximately 3,000 free weekly meetings across 35 countries, both face-to-face and online. Supporting products include self-help SMART Manuals available in multiple languages, comprehensive Facilitator Training programs, and the Family & Friends Program for affected relatives. The organization also provides the SMART Track mobile app for routine outcome monitoring, a YouTube channel with Tips & Tools video series, and maintains a Global Research Network to support evidence-based practice. The Global Store offers program literature and merchandise. Affiliates operate in 16+ countries including USA, UK, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and South Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SMART Recovery Meetings
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero overdose deaths recorded at Medically Supervised Injecting Centre partnerships
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SMART Recovery Global
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SMART Recovery Global technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SMART Recovery Global partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Global Research Advisory Committee (GRAC)coreInternational committee of researchers from Harvard, Northwestern, King's College London, University of Wollongong, Monash University, and others guiding evidence-based practice and research development.
- University of WollongongcoreAcademic partner hosting research activities, chairs for Global and Australian Research Advisory Committees, and coordination of systematic reviews.
- Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC), AustraliacorePartnership with harm reduction facility providing holistic, person-centred approach to addiction. Zero overdose deaths recorded at the centre.
- Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program (DAP)minorInternational organization whose Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders introduced SMART Recovery to treatment providers in Indonesia.
- Government of Punjab, India - Health Department and CADAcoreImplementation of SMART Recovery in government-run Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment Centres across multiple districts. Psychiatrists and psychologists trained as facilitators.
- SMART Recovery USAcorePrimary US affiliate operating under license from SMART Recovery International. Manages US meeting network, facilitator training, and online meetings platform (SROL - SMART Recovery Online Leadership Team).
- SMART Recovery UKcoreUK affiliate managing British meeting network and research activities. Board chaired by Professor Marcantonio Spada. Works with NHS and treatment services.
- SMART Recovery AustraliacoreMajor Australian affiliate operating 355+ weekly meetings. Conducts research, facilitator training, and maintains research advisory committee. Hosts webinars and training programs.
- SMART Recovery IrelandcoreIrish affiliate established 2018 as SMART Recovery Ireland CLG to develop governance, training programs, and strategic plan for peer involvement in Ireland.
- SMART Recovery DenmarkcoreDanish affiliate established 2018 operating 11 cities with government-funded research validating program efficiency.
- SMART Recovery SwedencoreSwedish affiliate operating under smartrecovery.se providing meetings in Swedish language.
- SMART Recovery Spain (SMART Recovery Español)coreSpanish-language affiliate providing meetings for Spanish-speaking populations including Latin America.
- SMART Recovery South AfricacoreSouth African affiliate operating meetings for addiction recovery, serving populations with limited access to formal rehabilitation services.
- SMART Recovery PolandcorePolish affiliate operating online and face-to-face meetings including Polish-speaking meeting in Dublin, Ireland.
- SMART Recovery CanadacoreCanadian affiliate providing meetings across Canada through smartrecovery-canada.ca.
- SMART Recovery IcelandminorIcelandic affiliate operating meetings in Iceland under smartrecovery.is.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights8 records
SMART Recovery Global competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Celebrate Recovery: Large Christ-centered 12-step alternative with thousands of church-based weekly meetings; represents the faith-based incumbent in the alternative-to-AA mutual support category where SMART operates.
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Major US addiction treatment provider with residential and outpatient programs plus publishing/research arms (including CBT-influenced curricula); broader incumbent offering integrated clinical services that encompass SMART's mutual support modality.
Direct peers
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Largest global mutual support fellowship for alcohol recovery; the dominant 12-step alternative that SMART Recovery explicitly positions against as a secular, CBT-based alternative serving the same population.
- LifeRing Secular Recovery: Secular, abstinence-based mutual support organization offering free meetings as an alternative to 12-step programs; competes head-to-head with SMART in the non-religious recovery segment.
- Oxford House: Network of democratically run, self-supporting sober living homes; comparable peer-driven recovery model operating as an alternative to traditional treatment, often used in conjunction with SMART-style mutual support.
- Refuge Recovery: Mindfulness-based addiction recovery program with peer-led meetings; another non-12-step, evidence-informed alternative competing with SMART in the secular/alternative recovery space.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA): Global 12-step fellowship for drug addiction recovery operating free weekly meetings worldwide; the closest direct counterpart to SMART's substance-specific mutual support model.
- Moderation Management: Non-12-step support network for problem drinkers seeking moderation rather than abstinence; comparable alternative mutual support model targeting a similar but distinct segment of recovery seekers.
- Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS): Non-profit network of secular sobriety support groups; directly comparable secular alternative competing with SMART for the same non-12-step recovery audience.
- Women for Sobriety: Self-help program for women with substance use disorders using positive-thinking and cognitive-behavioral principles; comparable mutual-support alternative with overlapping CBT-influenced methodology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SMART Recovery Global social profiles
Digital presenceSMART Recovery Global financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMART Recovery Global leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SMART Recovery Global funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMART Recovery Global M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SMART Recovery Global
What does SMART Recovery Global do?
SMART Recovery Global provides a free, evidence-based addiction recovery program built on the proprietary SMART Recovery 4-Point Program® framework, delivered through approximately 3,000–3,500 peer-led weekly meetings (face-to-face and online) across more than 20–35 countries. The organization also sells recovery manuals, journals, and program literature, and offers paid facilitator training programs that enable individuals and professionals to start SMART meetings in their communities.
Is SMART Recovery Global a public or private company?
SMART Recovery Global is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SMART Recovery Global founded?
SMART Recovery Global was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does SMART Recovery Global make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and Literature Sales and facilitator Training.
Who are SMART Recovery Global's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Celebrate Recovery and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Direct peers are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), LifeRing Secular Recovery, Oxford House, Refuge Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Moderation Management, Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) and Women for Sobriety.
Does SMART Recovery Global have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMART Recovery Global.
What industry is SMART Recovery Global in?
SMART Recovery Global's product category is Addiction Recovery Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAN, Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAO, Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services. Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8300.