Getting sober has long relied on hope, promises, and big claims — but rarely on measurable progress. In this milestone 50th episode of DANG!, Todd and Bettijo talk with Dr. Jared Dempsey and Kevin Jones, co-creators of Trac9 Informatics, about what happens when recovery is measured with science instead of slogans.

SUMMARY

For decades, addiction treatment has been a kind of Wild West: different centers using different questionnaires (or none at all), progress measured by gut instinct alone, and no reliable way to compare outcomes or understand what actually helps people stay sober. Today we welcome Dr. Jared Dempsey and Kevin Jones of Trac9 Informatics, two leaders working to bring scientific measurement into a field that has historically operated without it.

As the saying goes (the one Bettijo was grasping for): “What gets measured gets managed.” And in recovery, measurement has often been missing. Dempsey and Jones explain how their standardized weekly assessments look at key psychological factors—like depression, anxiety, stress, and more—that actually predict long-term sobriety. With millions of data points collected across treatment settings, they’ve uncovered patterns that can reveal when someone is struggling, when relapse risk may be rising, or when a therapist might need to dig deeper.

The discussion also turns to the wider treatment landscape: the push toward value-based care, where centers are rewarded for meaningful outcomes rather than simply filling beds; the need for greater transparency around what “success” in treatment actually means; and the persistent stigma that still keeps many families from seeking help sooner.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Introducing Dr. Jared Dempsey and Kevin Jones of Trac9 Informatics and their work in addiction treatment. (0:56)
• The nine key variables in their standardized weekly assessment battery, including spirituality and stress. (1:46)
• How the lack of measurement in treatment made the industry the "Wild West." (3:18)
• Explaining how Trac9 uses a computer learning system and customized algorithms to predict relapse risk for each treatment center. (6:59)
• Discussing their new feature that estimates the likelihood of relapse for an entire year post-discharge. (10:30)
• The concept of the "therapeutic co-pilot" and how the recovery data gives patients power over their substance use disorder. (13:02)
• How the fentanyl crisis is escalating the life or death danger of addiction (16:30)
• The actual death toll of addiction – killing more people each year than car crashes and many types of cancer (17:18)
• The importance of transitioning to value-based care where facilities are incentivized to achieve successful outcomes. (24:59)
• ToddFlix - Resident Alien (32:20)

LISTEN TO LEARN

• How weekly, science-based assessments are bringing order to the “Wild West” of rehab and redefining what real progress looks like.
• The psychological markers that actually predict lasting sobriety.
• How data can flag rising relapse risk before it becomes a crisis — giving therapists a true “co-pilot” in care.
• What families should look for (and avoid) when choosing a rehab facility.

Follow on Instagram:  Todd @toddbridges & Bettijo @pagingsupermom

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DANG! is produced by Loop 101 Media, Bettijo Bridges, Todd Bridges & Attalie Anne

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