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NE14Addiction Turns the Tables — and Becomes NE14Tech What started as a survivor-led recovery project, NE14Addiction, has now evolved into a groundbreaking technology company — NE14Tech — marking a major shift in digital recovery support across Europe. Founder Colin W. Gibson, from Alnwick, Northumberland, says the move was “a long time coming.” “There’s simply no funding anymore for small recovery-led companies in the UK,” Gibson explained. “Everything now goes through competitions run by organisations like Innovate UK and the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) — and those are designed for big tech companies. Smaller, community-based teams like ours in the North East have almost no chance of winning.” Determined not to give up, Gibson took a bold step — relocating development to Northern Ireland, which opened new opportunities and exposure. From there, the team launched NE14Tech, focused on building technology that puts control of recovery directly into the user’s hands. “The community is taking their data seriously now, and that’s what we stand for — trust and transparency,” he said. “We’ve chosen to host our entire platform in the European Union, specifically in Germany, which means our users’ data is protected under EU data laws — stricter and safer than those in the UK. We don’t collect user data — we simply host the app and website. It’s about giving people control, not taking it away.” The new platform, Detox Guardian, is described as an “all-in-one recovery companion.” Users can choose how their recovery plans work, which doctors or loved ones can join their private support space, and what content or features they want to see. “It’s different from anything else out there,” Gibson added. “It’s about putting trust back in the hands of the user — that’s what recovery should be about. And it works.” NE14Tech has already applied for official DiGA certification in Germany (a program that allows digital health apps to be prescribed by doctors and covered by insurance), and France has invited the company to apply for healthcare integration as well. While the UK healthcare system declined to support the platform — citing coverage and cost barriers — Gibson remains optimistic. “In Germany and France, recovery apps like ours are fully covered by healthcare systems and insurers — no cost to the patient. That’s how it should be. The UK just isn’t ready yet, but we’ll keep going.” Despite investor setbacks and technical hurdles still being worked on before the app’s full rollout in April 2026, the founder remains inspired by how far the project has come. “I came out of rehab homeless,” Gibson said. “I built NE14Addiction from nothing — and it’s still standing. Now we’ve taken it further. NE14Tech is giving recovery a voice in the digital age. Detox Guardian is alive — and so are the hearts it’s helping.” The platform is currently in trial phase, and NE14Tech is inviting individuals, clinicians, and organisations to join the testing community. To take part in the trial and receive one year of free access, email: support@detox-guardian.com Visit: www.detox-guardian.com
