Alcoholics Anonymous To The App Store: My Journey

Samuel Bennett started drinking heavily when he was 14 years old, and went to rehab for the first time at 18. Having relapsed all through his twenties, he says his rock-bottom moment came when he woke up having crashed out on some bin bags in the street. It was then he realised he needed to change his life. Knowing that recovery can be lonely, he created an app which links up people in similar situations, giving them support at the touch of a button. He hopes the app will stop people relapsing and help them turn their lives around.
Made by Connor Matheson & Joseph White
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[@samuelbennett3347]

thanks, guys, lovely comments!! The App is called Meet4acoffee, you can follow me on facebook @meet4acoffee

[@vastavatar1856]

Samuel Thomas You made it? Congrats!! Its a brilliant Idea!

[@samuelbennett3347]

yeah :) it's in the process of being built just need the final capital to get it launched, means a lot appreciate it

[@zelda3272]

Thanks for making this, I struggle with alcohol addiction myself, your app sounds like a great idea x

[@samuelnaden7898]

@@zelda3272 thankyou for your interest. I hope you love it once I'm able to launch x

[@Grumbo991]

Congrats brother, you've got this!

[@scotttee4597]

Nice, good work dude, keep it up 👍

[@dot680]

A man woke him up to give him change lol. That must really be a wake up call. Props to this guy for rising from the literal gutter.

[@roweme]

Really proud of you Sam. amazing work :)

[@goblin-teeth]

This is amazing, you're helping and will help so many people. I've been told that I am more susceptible to addictions, which is quite frightening. I hope I never have to use this app, but if I ever need it, it'll be there because of you. Thank you ❤

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou so much for this lovely comment

[@moonsmall2531]

This is so freaking awesome!!!

[@samuelbennett3347]

Thankyou :)

[@paulgibbons2320]

Well done. It's great to see someone save themselves from a life on the streets. You deserve respect. It's awful to walk past all these people who are lost to the world. Knowing only they can help themselves.

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou so much

[@lorrainepeattie]

Well done x

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou!

[@clair233]

Awesome. This will reach so many 🤗💜

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou very much x

[@clair233]

@@samuelbennett3347 no no no thank you 🙂

[@ADetailedHouse]

I am glad you spoke about the amount you drank to give context bc when I have brought up the amount that the (functional & hidden) alcoholic in my life drinks, no one believes it. He works from home and has for 15 years, so he can day drink, which has led to an incredible tolerance. He too drinks a liter of vodka a day, but has drank more at times, drinking as much as 1.75 liters in a day. He doesn't leave the house much, but when he does, he puts vodka in water or soda bottles. He doesn't slur or fall down. He holds down a job (despite frequent mistakes, slacking off, watching tv during the day), gets up in the morning, and rages at the suggestion that he shouldn't drive. He has no DUIs. He has stolen prescription medications repeatedly and scammed a dr into thinking he has ADHD and upping the amphetamine dosage to the highest allowed. But still, he "doesn't have a problem." Nothing is his fault. A police chief told me of pulling someone over for a traffic violation, smelling alcohol, so gave a breathalyzer. The guy wasn't slurring, stumbling or anything. The legal limit is .08, but the guy's BAC was .3! Bc it was so dangerously high, he was taken to the hospital & his blood was drawn (prob to verify - officer thought his machine was broken). The reading was correct. The guy was alcoholic.

[@nikitamontanna5546]

This Is Amazing. This Will Help Alot Of People 👊

[@samuelbennett3347]

thanks!

[@1107861214ali]

From disaster to creativity. Good example of someone using their difficult past to create a positive future for himself and many others 👍🏼. All the best and wish you massive successes

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou so much

[@Senura101]

Well done 👍☺️

[@samuelbennett3347]

thank you !!

[@scarahpurr]

Awesome idea! Good luck!

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou!!

[@HH-md3xd]

good for you mate! well done and good luck in your sobriety :)

[@samuelbennett3347]

thanks :)

[@lynette599]

Good idea!!

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou :)

[@jamesdevine9090]

Cheers man a0ll the best fella

[@MrPersona94]

Great video and inspiring story, I will say what kept pulling my eye was one of the cameras had a weird consistant dark spot or water drop, slightly to the top right from center frame. Cant really be fixed I think but seems unprofessional.

[@TheSamoht67]

Day at a time Bro, keep strong.

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou

[@EllieJanice]

Good luck, Samuel!

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou xx

[@jeannelucas3132]

This. Is. Awesome.

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou xx

[@hangsambo12]

Any update?

[@malicahamilton]

The title makes no sense but this video is really good

[@Darkangel7091]

Sam, you know i'm behind you all the way and I believe in you. Always a phone call away.

[@thathobbitlife]

I'd love to support you, how can we help fund this so it gets into the app store? Also, are you working on making this international? I'd love to help spread this in the recovery circles here on the west coast.

[@samuelbennett3347]

Hello Heather, thankyou so much for your comment you can viste the just giving page www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/meet4acoffee or if you would like to be further involved I would be happy to talk you can email me at [e-mail] I too believe in this with all my heart. thankyou xx

[@xjlfx1756]

My man tom hardy changing his life well done bro

[@samuelbennett3347]

thankyou very much xx

[@justintai8725]

I cant find the app

[@monica_richardson]

are you in AA or Do you like SMART RECOVERY better? Or neither?

[@WildWarriorBill]

freddy mercury's long lost son?

[@isabellaceleste5756]

Thought exactly that!

[@kriddz]

Nice one. Todays marks 568 days off the booze for me (i just checked on my app, but it doesn't have any other features like yours). Great little idea, seems like the missing link between AA and online forums.

[@bergfish7328]

Christy Taylor Excellent Going!! 🏆👏

[@samuelbennett3347]

well done you and thankyou I believe in this with all my heart

[@jamesdevine9090]

Big up to u mate whats the app name please im an addict and in recovery n need help been to aa have ti get bck really do i wish u well on ur journey bro just for today

[@samuelbennett3347]

thanks dude. its called meet4acoffee

[@AngelOne11]

meet4acoffee.com/

[@Chaarlotte64]

BBC really? I mean why can't you put the name of the app in the video? I don't get it

[@samuelbennett3347]

that's wouldn't for advertising reasons. it's call meet4acoffee if you Google it there is lots more xx

[@alwaysme9833]

Am finding it very difficult to stop boozing

[@samuelbennett3347]

Hope to have the App out soon to give you that support. thanks for watching

[@evegibney2064]

I'm not sure where you're living but there are AA meetings around the place. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Good luck 👍

[@alwaysme9833]

Eve Dean thanks for your thumb up xx

[@evegibney2064]

Just Say You Going You're very welcome x

[@Darkangel7091]

sometimes AA isn't an answer as people are often ashamed to admit they have an alcohol problem. Your right they must have the desire to stop drinking, but sometimes it's a step that they are unwilling to take.

[@AhmedHassan-vq8ou]

how does a 14 yr old get access to alcohol

[@jeannelucas3132]

Often at home.

[@alexxxaification]

By older adults who don’t care and home, other addicts.

[@Darkangel7091]

it wasn't as strict back then, most 14 year olds could get hold of alcohol, or ask older kids or adults to go to off license to buy them some alcohol.

[@pierblaq]

What’s the name of the app?

[@samuelbennett3347]

hey, its called meet4acoffee x

[@pierblaq]

Samuel Thomas I can’t find it in the App Store :-(

[@samuelbennett3347]

its not in the app stores yet, I have to raise the money for the final launch which is why I am always flyering the just giving page etc, should be in the app stores this year. so pleased your interested thanks

[@mohacs1000]

Recovery needs to adapt to modern technology to help a new generation suffering the hell that is addiction.

[@samuelbennett3347]

I 100% agree

[@Blue_ocean66]

Did the lady in alcoholics anonymous say ill because I wiped off my shoe with spit? 🤔

[@abrain2910]

Well done Samuel great work BBC you could have listed his app for him as you did for yourself. Your a very selfish organisation. Took his story ok that gives him a platform but you should have stepped up and mentioned it for him ...I mean bruh very mean indeed !!!

[@beachboss7320]

They can’t do that, it’s a public funded broadcaster. There’s nothing stopping him spamming the comments

[@vastavatar1856]

OwO

[@samuelbennett3347]

Google meet4acoffe every one. Thankyou♡