01 / What gets measured
The floor, not the ceiling
Drug tests. Curfew. Attendance. These are the floor of recovery, not the ceiling. Programs that stop here are flying blind on actual progress.
Whole-person recovery measurement
Stop measuring sobriety.
Stop measuring sobriety.
Start measuring momentum.
An 8-domain, 32-point framework that measures the areas research says actually predict lasting recovery — scored weekly, so progress is visible.
Sample participant · Week 8
One profile. Eight domains.
Total: 20 / 32Zone: Momentum
RMI=S+I+C+R+SF+E+SC+CF
StabilityIdentity ShiftConnectionResponsibility
Steps ForwardEmotional RegulationSelf-CompassionContribution & Service
A structured framework that measures the eight areas research says actually predict long-term recovery — not just whether someone stayed clean.
The Problem
Most programs are measuring the wrong things.
Sobriety checks. Attendance sheets. Rule compliance. These matter — but research shows they're not enough to predict who stays in recovery long-term.
02 / What predicts success
What actually drives recovery
Recovery capital. Identity shift. Emotional resilience. Community belonging. Goal pursuit. These are what the research says drives lasting recovery.
03 / What the RMI does
A weekly, structured measure
Gives your program a structured, weekly, research-grounded way to measure and coach the eight domains that actually matter — every single week.
The Framework
Eight domains. One score that means something.
Each domain is anchored in peer-reviewed research and scored 0–4 every week, for a total Recovery Momentum score out of 32.
S · Stability
Stability
Recovery structure, routine, honesty, and safety. The floor everything else is built on.
↗ Recovery Capital Theory
I · Identity Shift
Identity Shift
Moving from an addiction identity toward recovery ownership and transformation.
↗ SIMOR · Best et al., 2016
C · Connection
Connection
Healthy relationships, community belonging, reduced isolation. Recovery doesn't happen alone.
↗ Social Recovery Capital
R · Responsibility
Responsibility
Accountability, follow-through, ownership of choices. The shift from managed to self-directed.
↗ Miller et al., 2019
SF · Steps Forward
Steps Forward
Active goals, future planning, transition readiness. Are they building, or just waiting?
↗ Witkiewitz & Marlatt, 2004
E · Emotional Regulation
Emotional Regulation
Coping skills, stress management, resilience. The #1 relapse predictor — now measurable.
↗ NIDA relapse research
SC · Self-Compassion
Self-Compassion
Movement from shame and self-punishment toward self-kindness, healing, and self-care.
↗ Neff, 2003 · Neff & Germer, 2013
CF · Contribution
Contribution & Service
Investing in peers, community, and family beyond the self. Giving back to the people in their lives.
↗ Zemore & Kaskutas, 2004
Scoring Zones
The score tells you exactly where to focus.
Every RMI total (0–32) falls into a zone with clear coaching direction. No more guessing what a participant needs next.
0 – 8
Crisis Zone
Immediate stabilization. Safety planning. High structure. Increased supervision.
9 – 16
Stabilization Zone
Foundation building. Emotional-regulation support. Structure and routine focus.
17 – 24
Momentum Zone
Growth coaching. More responsibility. Leadership opportunities. Goal expansion.
25 – 32
Ownership Zone
Transition planning. Mentorship roles. Independence. Alumni preparation.
RMI vs. traditional tracking
See the difference
Traditional tracking tells you what happened. The RMI tells you what it means — and what to do next.
✕ Traditional tracking
Assessment
Drug test: pass. Attendance: present. Curfew: met. No further clinical direction.
Staff notes
"He had a good week." No documented evidence. No identified risk factors.
At discharge
"30 days complete." Unknown relapse vulnerability. No transition-readiness data.
Outcome
Can't show funders what changed. No measurable whole-person outcomes.
✓ Recovery Momentum Index™
Assessment
Stability 3/4 · Identity 2/4 · Emotional Reg 1/4 → 20/32, Momentum Zone.
Staff direction
Coaching focus: Emotional Regulation. Coping-tool development this week. Family conversation flagged.
At discharge
27/32, Ownership Zone. Transition-ready. Known vulnerability: emotional regulation under family stress.
Outcome
8 weeks of scored domain data. Documented growth trajectory. Funder-ready outcomes report.
Research foundation
Peer-reviewed evidence.
Every domain maps to published research on what predicts long-term recovery.
4×
Recovery capital is among the strongest predictors of long-term recovery maintenance.
White & Cloud, 2008
76%
Difficulty managing negative emotions is among the most common relapse triggers.
Koob & Volkow, NIDA, 2016
2.3×
Self-directed responsibility predicts higher program-completion rates.
Miller, Forcehimes & Zweben, 2019
68%
Recovery identity is one of the most consistent predictors of sustained abstinence.
Best et al. (SIMOR), 2016
58%
Active goal pursuit is a significant protective factor against relapse.
Witkiewitz & Marlatt, 2004
4
All eight domains map onto SAMHSA's four recovery dimensions: health, home, purpose, community.
SAMHSA ROSC, 2012
Recovery isn't only measured by what someone stops doing. It's measured by what they start building.
Stephen Nemetchek · Creator of the RMI™
From the field
What programs are saying
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"Add a real, permissioned quote here — what changed for the program after adopting the RMI."
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Replace · get sign-off
"A second named quote — ideally with a measurable result, plus a photo or program logo."
Full Name
Title · Organization (named & approved)
Title · Organization (named & approved)
Ready to measure what actually matters?
Join programs building recovery outcomes that last.
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