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AAN12Addiction Action Network
A man looking across a calm lake from a cliff

In his own words

Matthew's Story

Matt Bennett, Founder of AAN12.

I lived with alcoholism for more than 35 years before I finally hit rock bottom. That’s where I found sobriety - by accepting step 1 of the AA 12 step program, ‘admitted that I was powerless over alcohol and my life had become unmanageable.’ That journey is why I built AAN12: a place where people in recovery can support one another, connect to resources they can trust, and know they don’t have to rebuild their lives alone.

“I built AAN12 to be the community I needed when I got sober.”
- Matt Bennett, Founder and Recovering Addict

About the Founder

The experience behind AAN12

The Personal Battle

35+ Years of Active Alcoholism
A long, grueling struggle with addiction that eventually led to hitting absolute rock bottom.
Surrender & Transformation
Reached a definitive turning point, after suffering heart, liver, and blood sugar complications as well as losing relationships, friends, and family. Completely accepting that he had a problem he could not control alone.
The 5-Relapse Catalyst
Experienced 5 relapses, directly caused by a critical lack of structured resources, sober networks, and accessible peer activities to stay aligned and connected post-treatment.

Long-term vision · Future

The Vision for AAN12

A Safe Haven Ecosystem
Designing a centralized platform where recovering individuals can support each other, eliminate isolation, and build deep social accountability.
Comprehensive Match Engines
Facilitating precise lifestyle matches to find partners, meetings, and recreational groups (such as golf, travel, dating) with similar handicaps, age, background, industry and addiction types.
Bridges to Treatment & Loved Ones
Providing lookup services for immediate detox/rehab access, while extending tools and portal support to loved ones and family members.

These are long-term ideas from the founder’s vision. They are not built Phase I products or available features.

The Slogan and Core Sourcing Mission of AAN12

Strength, Courage, Wisdom

AAN12 exists to give people in recovery a lasting home - not just treatment, but ongoing community, trusted resources, and real connection for assimilating back into society and sustaining a healthier lifestyle without the fear of a relapse.

Learn about Recovery MatchFind recovery support