Celebrate the effort
Goals and rewards
Following through on something you agreed to is worth recognising. P in the Cup celebrates showing up and staying consistent, at your own pace and on your own terms.
Planned, launching with the app
The app is launching soon and isn't open yet. Streaks, XP, badges and goals are Planned. Details may change before launch.
The one rule
We reward participation, never a result
Recognition in P in the Cup is for voluntary participation, habit consistency and the goals you set. It is never given for a negative test result.
There are good reasons for that. A home test is a screening test that only covers the substances it's designed to detect, at the time it's taken. It isn't proof of sobriety, so we won't treat it as one. Rewarding results would also put pressure on the very honesty an agreement depends on. Rewarding the effort keeps the focus where it belongs.
How progress is shown
Streaks, XP and digital badges
XP and badges are optional. Each person can switch them on or off for themselves, and a group or organisation can switch them off for everyone in it. The schedule, check-ins and goals work the same without them.
Streaks Planned
A simple count of how consistently you've checked in and followed through. A streak that resets isn't a failure; it's a fresh start.
XP Planned
Experience points for participation, like checking your status and completing what you agreed to, so progress builds up over time.
Digital badges Planned
Milestone badges for things like your first week of check-ins or a completed commitment. They're digital recognition, not physical prizes.
Goals to choose from
Pick a goal that fits
Build a 7-day check-in habit
Check "Is today the day?" every day for a week. Small, achievable, and a good place to start.
Choose a 30-day commitment
Commit to following your agreement for a month, and watch your progress build day by day.
Unlock a participation badge
Reach a participation milestone and add a badge to your profile. Show it to your group, or keep it to yourself.
Support a private group challenge
Join an opt-in challenge in your private group and encourage each other. Joining is always a choice.
Opt into digital rewards
Turn on XP and badges if they motivate you, or leave them off if you'd rather keep things simple. A group or organisation can also switch them off for all its members.
Sponsor prizes Coming later
There are no sponsors or prizes today. Physical prizes may be added later, only if they are funded and reviewed, and only for participation and consistency. About supporting the free service.
An honest note
Is this a treatment or "contingency management"?
No. You may have heard of contingency management, a treatment approach that uses incentives. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has published an advisory on using SAMHSA grant funds for contingency management. SAMHSA describes it as a treatment intervention, and the advisory sets out the evidence behind it, the funding guardrails, and which grant programs the funding change applies to.
P in the Cup is not a treatment, is not contingency management, and is not delivered by a treatment provider. Our badges and goals are simple encouragement for adults who chose to take part. Nothing on this site claims P in the Cup is an evidence-based treatment or that it will produce any health outcome. If you're looking for treatment or support, please talk to a healthcare professional or see our support library.
Cost
The random scheduling and accountability service is free. Test kits and any laboratory testing are purchased separately.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "Drugs of Abuse Home Use Test" (content current as of 27 September 2018; read 21 October 2026). Supports: home tests give a preliminary result, a test detects only the drugs it is designed for (check the label), a negative can result from collecting too early or too late, and no test of this type is 100% accurate.
- SAMHSA, "Using SAMHSA Funds to Implement Evidence-Based Contingency Management Services" (last updated 9 January 2025; read 21 October 2026). Supports: SAMHSA's advisory describes a change in funding for contingency management, its guardrails, the evidence and permissible uses of funding for this treatment intervention; the change applies to State Opioid Response and Tribal Opioid Response grants.
Page last updated