For people with alcohol use disorder, the decision to stop drinking is the first step in what is possibly a longer process of recovery. That process requires repairing the damage that may have been caused in multiple areas of life, including health, work, family and friendships. Since trust is foundational to any relationship, including the ones we have with ourselves, restoring trust is key to rebuilding relationships that have been harmed.
During periods of drinking, loved ones may have heard promises that weren’t kept or found themselves on the receiving end of unkind remarks. Employers may have seen dips in performance or reliability. And those who were drinking may have lost trust in themselves after falling short of their own commitments and intentions.
“Rebuilding trust with others and oneself is a central part of long-term recovery, and it’s a process, not a one-time event,” says Dr. Mandy Neeble Diamond, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist. “Alcohol monitoring technology provides support and accountability to help people navigate that process.”
Trust and Accountability
In their book Building Trust, business professor Robert Solomon and business consultant Fernando Flores describe trust as an ongoing emotional skill that involves choosing to trust others and making commitments ourselves. “Trust isn’t something we have, trust is something we do, something we make,” they write. Repairing trust takes awareness and effort, starting with acknowledging the truth. It also requires becoming accountable for what has happened in the past and for what we’re committed to doing moving forward.
Being accountable is more than saying sorry. An effective apology that includes accountability has four parts, according to Dr. Aaron Lazare, dean of psychiatry at University of Massachusetts Medical School and author of the book On Apology. Those four parts are acknowledging the mistake, giving an authentic explanation that’s not an excuse, expressing remorse, and providing some kind of reparation. In recovery settings, that reparation can take the form of repairing property that was damaged, but more often, it involves treating others with kindness and respect, upholding responsibilities and keeping promises — including promises not to drink alcohol.
How Alcohol Monitoring Bracelets can Support Accountability and Trust
Continuous alcohol monitoring devices can help people in recovery rebuild trust in several ways. First, they support users in keeping their commitment to remaining alcohol-free, a commitment that is just as important to their own self-esteem as it is to rebuilding trust with the people in their lives.
Jason Wahler, an actor and recovery advocate, says wearing an app-enabled alcohol monitoring bracelet has helped him remain alcohol-free. When he found himself tempted to drink while wearing SOBRsure, just a glance at his wrist was enough to remind him of his commitment.
“The band is ideal for accountability,” Wahler says.
Keenen Diamond, an administrator at Temecula Recovery Center, says the continuous accountability that comes with SOBRsure is a gamechanger.
“Wearing your device 24-hours-a-day really changes the relapse mindset,” he says. “With other methods, you may have to test in the future, you may get called into your testing site tomorrow, but with the watch, you have to look at your wrist and say, ‘Am I going to drink and get caught? Am I going to remove it and get caught?’”
For many people in recovery, knowing that a loved one or therapist will be notified by the alcohol monitoring bracelet’s app-enabled technology if they drink alcohol or remove the band provides built-in accountability that in turns helps them stay accountable to themselves and others by remaining alcohol-free. Continuous monitoring also provides opportunity for early intervention. If third parties are notified of alcohol use or band removal, they can immediately provide support and treatment to help the wearer get back on track.
Rebuilding Trust with Yourself
One of the biggest obstacles for many in early recovery is be learning to trust yourself again. After cycles of relapse or broken resolutions, many people feel doubtful about whether they can truly remain alcohol-free. Alcohol monitoring bracelets, such as the discreet SOBRsure™ wristband can build confidence exponentially. Instead of relying on willpower alone, people have real-time transparency to reinforce their commitment. The longer they prove to themselves and others that they can remain alcohol-free, the more their trust in themselves can be restored. For people in recovery, each alcohol-free day is a tangible reminder that they are living up to their goals. That kind of reinforcement can fortify self-belief and increase momentum.
Rebuilding Trust with Loved Ones
Family members, partners, and close friends often carry the weight of past disappointments. Even when they want to be supportive, it can take time for them to truly believe change is possible. Alcohol monitoring can bridge that gap. Wearing a wristband that tracks alcohol use around the clock gives everyone involved something they can count on, clarity. It takes away the guessing and second-guessing that often come with recovery. Instead of wondering whether a promise is being kept, family and friends can see real proof of progress. That kind of openness replaces doubt with reassurance and helps relationships start to heal. Trust is not rebuilt overnight, but when progress is visible and consistent, the ability to trust grows..
Building Trust in Professional Settings
Workplace relationships also depend heavily on trust. A history of alcohol misuse can create questions about reliability and safety. The SOBRsure alcohol monitoring bracelet provides continuous proof that a person is meeting recovery goals. This proof can help reassure employers and colleagues while also supporting treatment providers who want to demonstrate progress to insurers or regulators. In this way, monitoring becomes more than just personal accountability—it’s a way of demonstrating to others that recovery is real and sustainable.
A Tool for Recovery, Not Punishment
Along with therapy, rehabilitation programs and medications, continuous alcohol monitoring devices can be a powerful tool to support recovery from alcohol use disorder—not a means of punishment. The SOBRsure wristband, for instance, is discreet and requires no action on the part of the wearer. This is one thing that makes alcohol monitoring bracelets distinct from breath, blood and urine tests, which can feel intrusive and punitive while requiring inconvenient action on the part of the wearer.
Moving Forward with Trust
With the support of tools like alcohol monitoring bracelets, people in recovery can demonstrate change. Day by day, the evidence builds—and with it, trust returns. With the right treatment, support systems and technology, people can rebuild trust with themselves and with the people who matter most, making new futures possible for all of them.