Led by David Patton

Mapping the Impact of The Phoenix as an Epicenter for Change, Healing and Transformation

This project positions the Phoenix as an epicenter of change, healing, growth and transformation. Impacting those at the center of The Phoenix community, but this is a generative force – its ‘goodness’ spreads among members, volunteers and staff but also extends further afield to the wider community, into local neighborhoods and touching the family, friends and neighbors of its members. By examining this ripple effect, the study will uncover how The Phoenix’s cultural influence contributes to the holistic well-being of individuals and communities beyond those in recovery, offering a new perspective on the role of collective recovery movements in transforming society.

Led by Danny Valdez

Applying Natural Language Processing to Analyze Communication within The Phoenix App

This study applies a range of natural language processing (NLP) and deep-learning techniques to analyze social posts on The NewForm App (formerly The Phoenix App). By identifying key discussion topics and the sentiment of these, this research aims to uncover what members communicate on the platform. Sentiment analysis provides insight into the emotional tone of discussions and how members support one another in a digital community.

Led by John Kelly and David Eddie

Advancing the Science of Recovery Communities: The Role of The Phoenix for Those New to Recovery

This proof-of-concept study seeks to explore the transformative impact of The Phoenix, prospectively testing improvements in substance use, psychosocial functioning, and autonomic nervous system responses for new members in recovery compared to matched community controls, as well as shedding light on predictors of engagement, retention, and derived benefits.