What Substance Use Disorder Foundation does

Substance Use Disorder Foundation (SUDF) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that operates the Digital Recovery Standards (DRS) certification program, an independent third-party evaluation system purpose-built for digital substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery platforms. The foundation addresses a gap left by clinic-oriented accreditors (JCAHO, CARF) by codifying regulation-based standards that map to HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, SAMHSA Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs 42, 50, 63, 64), state telehealth regulations, NIST, OWASP, and WCAG 2.1 AA. SUDF's standards committee comprises board-certified addiction specialists, healthcare compliance attorneys, certified peer recovery specialists, digital health technology experts, and patient advocates, and the foundation explicitly states it is independent of any platform vendor, technology company, or treatment provider.

The DRS framework is a 100-point assessment across five categories — Regulatory Compliance (26 pts), Clinical Excellence (26 pts), Technology & Security (22 pts), Peer Support Quality (16 pts), and User Experience (10 pts) — with up to 5 bonus points for innovation. It is delivered as a three-tier certification: Recognized (62-77 points, $5,000-$8,000, 12-month validity), Certified (78-89 points, $15,000-$25,000, 18-month validity), and Accredited (90-105 points, $30,000-$50,000, 24-month validity), plus a non-refundable $500 application fee credited toward the audit and annual maintenance fees of $500-$2,500 per tier. The Accredited tier incorporates SOC 2 Type II and HITRUST CSF alignment. The 8-10 week audit process covers documentation review, security assessment, clinical evaluation, and platform testing, conducted entirely remotely through SUDF's website portal (sudf.us) and email-based engagement.

SUDF's go-to-market is a direct, pilot-based sales motion targeting telehealth platforms, digital therapeutics, peer support communities, EAPs and employer wellness programs, health systems and payers, and courts/probation/diversion programs. The program is currently in a limited pilot phase accepting a founding-organization cohort with preferential pricing, and certified platforms are listed in a public DRS registry that enterprise buyers search during procurement. Orbiit Recovery Ecosystem is the named flagship customer, having achieved DRS Certified status and progressing toward Accredited. The organization's strategic posture is anchored to positioning DRS as the de facto quality benchmark for digital SUD care, with a near-term focus on court-supported Assisted Outpatient Treatment deployment backed by a referenced $10 million federal investment announcement.

Name

Substance Use Disorder Foundation

Legal name

Substance Use Disorder Foundation

Website

https://sudf.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Substance Use Disorder Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit that runs the Digital Recovery Standards (DRS) certification program — a three-tier, regulation-based third-party audit validating clinical quality, patient safety, and HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2 compliance for digital substance use disorder recovery platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Compliance Certification

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

DTx/SaMD Regulatory, Quality & Compliance Software (QMS/ISO/FDA) (HLACANAN)

Keywords

• Substance use disorder certification
• Digital health accreditation
• Behavioral health standards
• Recovery platform compliance
• Digital therapeutics certification

Headquarters

HQ city

S Central Washington Co

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DRS Certification Fees: One-time certification fees at three tiers: Recognized ($5,000-$8,000), Certified ($15,000-$25,000), and Accredited ($30,000-$50,000). Additional application fee of $500 (non-refundable, credited toward audit fee). Annual maintenance fees range from $500/year (Recognized) to $2,500/year (Accredited).
2. DRS Pilot Program: Limited pilot program offering founding organization pricing, direct access to standards development team, early adopter recognition, and priority scheduling for certification audits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SUDF provides independent third-party certification of digital substance use disorder recovery platforms through its Digital Recovery Standards (DRS) program. Organizations apply via the sudf.us portal, undergo documentation review, security assessment, clinical evaluation, and platform testing over 8-10 weeks, and receive one of three certification tiers (Recognized, Certified, Accredited) with corresponding badges, validity periods, and annual renewal options.

Product overview

The Substance Use Disorder Foundation operates the Digital Recovery Standards (DRS) certification program, a three-tier certification system (Recognized, Certified, Accredited) that validates digital recovery platforms for clinical quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance. The DRS framework evaluates platforms across five categories totaling 100 points: Regulatory Compliance (26 pts), Clinical Excellence (26 pts), Technology & Security (22 pts), Peer Support Quality (16 pts), and User Experience (10 pts). The program is currently in pilot phase, accepting a limited cohort of founding organizations. The certification validates compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and SAMHSA standards while preparing platforms for SOC 2 Type II and HITRUST certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DRS Certification: Digital Recovery Standards certification program providing independent third-party validation that digital substance use disorder treatment platforms meet rigorous standards for safety, compliance, and clinical quality. Offers three tiers: Recognized (62-77 points), Certified (78-89 points), and Accredited (90-105 points).

Products and services

• DRS Recognized Entry-level certification for digital SUD recovery platforms validating core patient safety and basic regulatory compliance. Requires 62-77 points across five standards categories, is valid for 12 months, and costs $5,000-$8,000 (or $2,500 founding pricing). Designed for startups, court referrals, and peer support platforms seeking foundational validation.
• DRS Certified Advanced certification validating HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and SAMHSA evidence-based practice compliance for platforms delivering clinical treatment services. Requires 78-89 points, is valid for 18 months, and costs $15,000-$25,000 (or $12,500 founding pricing). Designed for telehealth platforms, digital therapeutics, and employer/EAP partnerships.
• DRS Accredited Premier certification for established digital recovery platforms with demonstrated outcomes and organizational excellence. Requires 90-105 points, is valid for 24 months, and costs $30,000-$50,000 (or $35,000 founding pricing). Includes SOC 2 Type II and HITRUST CSF alignment, rigorous external audit, on-site assessment, and elite status with priority support. Designed for insurance contracting, research partnerships, and health system engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platforms can earn up to 5 bonus points for exceptional innovation, research participation, or community impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Orbiit Recovery EcosystemflagshipOthersOrbiit Recovery Ecosystem has achieved DRS Certified status and is progressing toward the highest Accredited level as an early adopter of the Digital Recovery Standards framework. SUDF highlights Orbiit as a trusted digital recovery platform demonstrating clinical quality and regulatory compliance through the DRS certification program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC): Accredits a wide range of healthcare providers including behavioral health and home/specialty pharmacy. Comparable accreditation framework model but broader scope and physical-setting focus rather than digital-only delivery.
• Council on Accreditation (COA): Accredits behavioral health, mental health, and substance use programs across the U.S. Comparable service line to SUDF but focused on traditional service-delivery organizations rather than digital recovery platforms.
• URAC: Independent healthcare accreditation organization with behavioral health and telehealth accreditation programs. Most directly comparable to SUDF in accrediting digital/virtual care delivery models, including mental health and SUD.
• DNV Healthcare: International accreditation body for hospitals and healthcare systems, including risk-based certification programs. Represents a credible competitor if it extends into digital behavioral health accreditation.
• CARF International: Independent accreditor specializing in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and rehabilitation services. The closest analog to SUDF in scope (SUD-specific accreditation) but serves clinic- and program-based settings rather than digital-first delivery.

Broad incumbents

• HITRUST: Issues the HITRUST CSF certification for healthcare information security and compliance. SUDF's DRS framework overlaps ~60-80% with HITRUST CSF; HITRUST is both an indirect partner for SUDF-certified platforms and a potential competitor if it expands into clinical-quality certification.
• Joint Commission (JCAHO): The dominant U.S. healthcare accreditation body, including behavioral health programs. SUDF explicitly positions DRS against JCAHO's clinic-centric model, making JCAHO the primary incumbent competitor if it launches a digital-delivery track.
• NCQA: Accredits health plans and provider organizations with quality measurement standards. Less directly competitive on digital SUD certification, but its brand and payer relationships make it an incumbent that could credibly enter the space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Substance Use Disorder Foundation