Inspiration
Millions of people worldwide struggle with addiction, which can lead to a wide range of physical, mental, and social health problems. Substance abuse can have devastating effects on families, leading to broken relationships, financial strain, and emotional turmoil. Communities also feel the impact through increased crime rates, strained resources, and decreased overall well-being.
Our creators co-founded the nonprofit organization PierA, which is aimed to educate individuals on substance abuse and mental health. As such, our primary objective was to create an accessible self-assessment tool for substance abuse and establish connections to pertinent resources based on the users' assessment results.
What it does
H.E.R.O. stands for Health, Empowerment, Recovery, and Outreach. Acknowledging substance abuse is a crucial step toward recovery. Self-identifying it signifies self-awareness and a longing for positive change. It's a brave choice leading to a healthier, fulfilling life, mend relationships, and avoid addiction's devastating consequences. Ultimately, self-identifying and seeking help are the first empowering steps toward a brighter future in recovery.
Our project is a web-based tool that guides users through a brief self-assessment questionnaire. Subsequently, based on their responses, the system calculates scores. Users with scores exceeding 5 are directed to nearby pharmacies and provided with a personalized recovery plan. Meanwhile, those with scores below 5 are directed to activities that expedite their progress towards overcoming substance abuse. The website highlights available treatment options, including personalized doctor recommendations and local resources and nearby pharmacies dedicated to helping those in need
How we built it
We employed a combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to construct this comprehensive tool.
Challenges we ran into
Our team faced numerous challenges, particularly as we were novices in the realm of programming. Learning and becoming proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript proved to be a significant challenge, as it was our first time using those languages.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
A source of pride for us is the rapid development of a functional website from the ground up in under 10 hours. Our website empowers communities to take action against substance abuse and equips individuals, families, and organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to recover from substance abuse.
What we learned
This project taught us the critical importance of acquiring programming skills. We realized that these technical skills have far-reaching applications in a multitude of domains.
What's next for H.E.R.O.
Looking ahead, we aspire to incorporate a personalized habits tracker, enabling users to monitor their progress through weekly updates and self-imposed challenges on their journey towards overcoming substance abuse. This feature will further enhance the effectiveness of our tool and provide invaluable support to those seeking help.
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