Inspiration
We noticed that insurance often leaves people struggling with addiction without the support they need. Seeing this gap inspired us to create FreshStart, a free, user-friendly web app designed to guide and support individuals battling substance abuse
What it does
FreshStart helps individuals recover from addiction by tracking progress and providing support when urges arise. Its main feature, Days Clean, lets users see how many consecutive and total days they’ve stayed clean. The “I’m Feeling Tempted” button offers tips, motivational messages, and calming exercises to resist cravings. Additional features include daily check-ins, mood tracking, reflections, access to resources, and direct links to help and support, all making FreshStart a comprehensive tool for anyone seeking a fresh start.
How we built it
We developed FreshStart as a web app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with all coding and testing done through Visual Studio Code on Windows.
Challenges we ran into
We faced several challenges while building FreshStart. One major question was how to make our app truly unique. We also struggled with preventing misuse, like users falsifying their sobriety progress. Another challenge was designing the app without relying on prescriptions or medications, since our approach focuses on neuroscience-based problem-solving and physical activities. Finally, we needed to translate complex neuroscience concepts into simple, actionable exercises that could support a variety of recovery paths, recognizing that each person’s journey is different.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud of creating FreshStart, a web app that is both user-friendly and accessible for people battling addiction. We successfully implemented features like Days Clean tracking, “I’m Feeling Tempted” support, and neuroscience-inspired physical activities to help users stay on track. Despite being a team with limited experience and having a particularly short chunk of time, we built a functional, meaningful app that addresses a real-world problem and provides tangible support for recovery.
What we learned
Through building FreshStart, we learned how to turn an idea into a functional web app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. We also gained experience in problem-solving, team collaboration, and designing user-focused features that address real-world challenges. Most importantly, we learned how to translate complex concepts, like neuroscience and addiction recovery, into practical, supportive tools that can make a difference in people’s lives.
What's next for FreshStart: Neuroplasticity Enhancing App
We plan to add more features to make FreshStart even more supportive and interactive. These include sharing progress with others, a family and friends tracker for additional encouragement, mobile accessibility, and new tools like goal-setting reminders and motivational challenges. Our goal is to continue expanding FreshStart into a comprehensive, science-backed app that helps users stay on track and thrive in their recovery journey.
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