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Drug & Rehab Industry Top Twitter Influencer Awards 2014

Published by John Gillen | Last updated: 17th July 2024

Since the dawn of social media (circa 2006), the anti-drug and rehabilitation industry has participated far and wide to spread our collective messages on multiple social channels. We’ve seen incumbents hang on to top positions and new arrivals come and thrive, whilst others have slipped away into obscurity.

Private organisations, Government-backed movements, registered charities, various ‘gurus’, power influencers,  you name it, we’ve seen them come and go. And the social landscape has matured and improved.

Unfortunately, Twitter is indeed clogged to the brim with abandoned accounts and spam distributors. How does one filter all this ‘noise’ in order to find those stars who distribute useful information? We thought we’d find out whom in the industry ‘the people’ rate on Twitter. This ‘Awards’ idea is very much to guide folk in finding those accounts peddling information providing genuine guidance and answers those itching questions our potential audiences may hold.

Whilst all the usual suspects have been voted for by you, we’re very happy to see some smaller names included. Hopefully, this will provide you with some new perspective on your outlook to rehabilitation. Maybe some of those ranked will be surprised to receive a nomination at all, let alone their inclusion into the final list!

If you’re in this category, well done!

And keep up the good work.

Why Use Twitter At All?

In order to discover the power of social media as a tool for change in the rehab industry, we asked some of the influencers in our space how the platform aides them spread their collective word.

Thomas Gillis of AlcoholicShare, a Connecticut based non-profit aiming to educate and bring awareness to the public about alcoholism, feels Twitter has been vital in the growth of his organisation.

“The major benefit of Twitter is the way it works. Twitter allows me to follow anyone in the world. Two years ago I founded a non-profit and twitter allows me put the non-profit name AlcoholicShare in front of millions, “ said Gillis.

“Twitter has allowed my organization to be connected with hundreds of rehab centers, and thousands of experts in the field of addiction, counsellors, therapists, psychologists, even students. ”

“Keeping our message on point with a familiar tone we connect with thousands of alcoholics in recovery. “

“When Tweeting I focus our content towards an emotional response” Gillis said, “if it moves me it usually moves others. Never tweet to tweet. Only tweet if you have something of value to offer your followers”.

Shari Allwood, CEO of Smart Recovery, a UK science-based programme that helps people manage their recovery from differing types of addictive behaviour, argues that Twitter allows his organisation to not only communicate with his current audience and community shareholders but to also acquire new audiences, especially end-users of his service who often struggle with their addictions and need Smart Recovery’s guidance.

“Twitter helps keep us in touch with our volunteers and supporters, allows us to announce new meetings and make contacts in areas where we haven’t had a previous presence, and helps our regional groups communicate with the world” said Allwood.

“It’s also an excellent avenue for people seeking addiction recovery support to find us and our meetings” concluded Allwood, “we believe those seeking recovery are best made aware of all available options, and Twitter is one of the best places in terms of democratizing content for the individual. “

Hannah Eiseman, Communications Officer at Addaction, one of the UK’s largest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charities, agrees that Twitter is a powerful communication tool for keeping in touch with industry shareholders, including communicating to those within her organisation.

“Twitter is a really interesting place to be when working in the Recovery field. It’s a place where we can talk to other charities, health bodies, supporters and commissioners. It’s also a space where a lot of our service users are comfortable speaking very openly” said Eiseman.

“Many of our different services have their own accounts” said Eiseman , “so we can signal-boost their news and success stories in amongst things like job opportunities, picture and video content, as well as current events which touch on addiction”.

Allison McCabe of Los Angeles based TheFix, a site that offers a daily mix of breaking news, exclusive interviews, investigative reports, essays and blogs on sober living, lifestyle and cultural resources said “we use social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ in order to increase our digital presence, recognize and reach potential readers and people seeking help, and keep our regular visitors up-to-date with all the latest developments in addiction and recovery. “

How We Found Nominees

Compiling the list of nominees was not an easy task and we filtered out all those that carried the hallmarks of a ‘bot’ constructed following — such as those with a high ratio of followings: followers, whereby the Twitter account may have acquired followers by following others, and automatically unfollowing folk who fail to follow back within a few days. Clearly inorganically acquired audiences of this variety have no place in works of this nature.

And yes, this sort of thing does go on!

A lot.

And a Big Thanks Goes to…

So, without further ado, I shall reveal those that made the grade! Make sure you check out their profiles and follow their accounts if feel they add value to your daily social perusing.

#1. Andrew Spanswic – @KleanCEO

Twitter Followers: 162934

Twitter Bio: Host of Klean Radio and CEO of KLEAN Treatment Centers.

#2. H. Thomas Gillis – @AlcoholicShare

Twitter Followers: 36147

Twitter Bio: I am the SOBER ALCOHOLIC, I tweet about what keeps me SOBER. GOD gave me a SECOND CHANCE to make a Life. Non Profit Activist, Indie Author.

#3. National Institute On Drug Abuse – @NIDAnews

Twitter Followers: 25200

Twitter Bio: NIDA’s mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.

#4. Sherry Gaba – @SherryGaba

Twitter Followers: 16483

Twitter Bio: Sherry Gaba, LCSW is a psychotherapist & life coach appearing on Celebrity Rehab and author of The Law of Sobriety sherrygaba sherry gaba.

#5. Beckley Foundation – @BeckleyResearch

Twitter Followers: 16309

Twitter Bio: We carry out pioneering scientific research into psychoactive drugs and consciousness, and promote evidence-based, health-oriented drug policy reform.

#6. Addiction Canada – @AddictionCanada

Twitter Followers: 11663

Twitter Bio: Welcome to Addiction Canada, a leading and reliable name for Addiction rehab solutions in Canada.

#7. Drug Scope – @DrugScope

Twitter Followers: 9996

Twitter Bio: DrugScope is the UK’s leading independent centre of expertise on drugs & the national membership org. for the drug field.

#8. Release – @Release_drugs

Twitter Followers: 9613

Twitter Bio: Release campaigns for changes to drug policy to bring about a fairer and more compassionate legal framework to manage drug use in our society.

#9. The Treatment Center – @TreatmentCOPB

Twitter Followers: 9508

Twitter Bio: Non given

#10. Drinkaware – @drinkaware

Twitter Followers: 9504

Twitter Bio: Drinkaware provides consumers with honest information, advice and tips to help them make informed decisions about alcohol.

#11. Turning Point – @TurningPointUK

Twitter Followers: 9101

Twitter Bio : As a leading health & social care organisation we provide drug & alcohol, mental health, learning disability, employment and primary care services.

#12. Harm Reduction Coalition – @HarmReduction

Twitter Followers: 9053

Twitter Bio: The Harm Reduction Coalition: promoting the health and dignity of those impacted by drug use.

#13. Sober Recovery Center – @sobaliving

Twitter Followers: 8306

Twitter Bio: We are an addiction treatment center with several locations in Malibu Ca and now San Antonio Tx.

#14. The Addiction Recovery Blog – @recoveryblog

Twitter Followers: 8018

Twitter Bio: The Addiction Recovery Blog offers insights on sobriety & recovery. It’s a place where recovering alcoholics & addicts can help each other Live Life Clean!

#15. The Fix – @_TheFix

Twitter Followers: 7982

Twitter Bio: Addiction and Recovery, Straight Up: News, Drug Policy, Culture, Resources and Rehab Reviews.

#16. Phoenix House – @Phoenixhouse

Twitter Followers: 7920

Twitter Bio: Leading nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities rise above addiction.

#17. Lifeline Project – @LifelineProject

Twitter Followers: 7362

Twitter Bio: Drugs and Alcohol: Not for Profit, Providing a range of prevention, treatment and recovery services for drug users families and carers.

#18. Addiction Treatment Magazine – @addictiontweets

Twitter Followers: 7350

Twitter Bio: Addiction Treatment Magazine tweets about drug/alcohol addiction treatment & the latest news about addiction. Call 855-251-4317 for treatment options.

#19. Talking Drugs – @Talkingdrugs

Twitter Followers: 7037

Twitter Bio: We are looking for volunteers worldwide to help do something about the world’s drug problems.

#20. SMART Recovery – @SMARTRecovery

Twitter Followers: 6650

Twitter Bio: SMART Recovery is the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group. Follows and retweets are not endorsements.

#21. Addaction – @AddactionUK

Twitter Followers: 6430

Twitter Bio: Leading UK treatment charity, rebuilding young people’s, families’ and adults’ lives affected by alcohol & drugs. We tweet about our work, sector news and more!

#22. Alcohol Concern – @AlcoholConcern

Twitter Followers: 6281

“Twitter Bio: Alcohol Concern is the leading national charity on alcohol misuse.

#23. Drug Addiction Treatment – @ondrugaddiction

Twitter Followers: 5978

Twitter Bio: Drug Addiction Treatment offers information related to drug addiction & drug rehab treatment. Alcohol & prescription drugs are also commonly abused substances.

#24. Addiction Journal – @AddictionJrnl

Twitter Followers: 5816

Twitter Bio: Publishing peer-reviewed research on alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco and behavioural addictions

#25. Drink & Drug News Magazine – @DDNMagazine

Twitter Followers: 5163

Twitter Bio: Drink and Drugs News is the monthly magazine for the substance misuse field. All the latest news, features and jobs.

#26. Florida Rehab – @FLORIDA_REHAB

Twitter Followers: 5637

Twitter Bio: Comprehensive addiction treatment center offering interventions, detox, drug rehab and alcohol rehab. For help call: (800) 960-5041

#27. Everything Addiction – @everyaddiction

Twitter Followers: 5273

Twitter Bio: Everything Addiction is one of the best sites to find information about addiction, from types of addiction and treatment, to the latest news and public policy.

#28. Harm Reduction International News – @HRInews

Twitter Followers: 4709

Twitter Bio: Harm Reduction International is one of the leading international NGOs promoting policies & practices that reduce the harms from all psychoactive substances.

#29. Rehabs.com – @Rehabs

Twitter Bio: We help thousands of people learn about options for treating drug, alcohol, and behavioral addictions.

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John Gillen

John Gillen - Author Last updated: 17th July 2024

John Gillen is a leading addiction treatment expert with over 15 years of experience providing evidence-based treatment methods for individuals throughout the UK. John also co-authors the book, The Secret Disease of Addiction, which delves into how the addictive mind works and what treatment techniques work best.

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