Hythiam Launches Online Recovery Media Network in Advance of Recovery Month in September

Hythiam Launches Online Recovery Media Network in Advance of Recovery Month in September

Company Sponsors Online Social Networking to Enhance Recovery

In advance of Recovery Month in September, Hythiam, Inc. (NASDAQ:HYTM) today announced the launch of Recovery Media Network (RMN), an online social network that supports the traditional recovery process. The network of sites, which will complement traditional behavioral approaches to addiction, on a 24 hour per day basis worldwide, initially includes three online destinations anchored by 12StepSpace (www.12stepspace.com).

“For this coming Recovery Month, we are pleased to launch our network, which already supports 4,000 individuals, as our contribution to the fellowship of substance dependent individuals, their families, and treatment providers working towards their recovery,” said Terren Peizer, CEO of Hythiam. “Sponsoring the Recovery Media Network is Hythiam’s response to the emerging reality that people living with addiction can easily use the internet to augment their efforts to maintain a healthy and relapse-free life. Based upon the current trend towards online social networking, we expect membership in this free network to grow dramatically as people learn about its availability and develop online recovery oriented relationships at a rapid rate.”

Peizer continued, “Our core beliefs include providing access to treatment for all, and an integrated approach towards the treatment of alcoholism and substance dependence, one that includes medical, nutritional, behavioral, and social approaches. We are proud that the founders of 12StepSpace would seek us out as a forward-thinking company that embraces both traditional and innovative approaches towards our joint mission of helping individuals, families, and societies that suffer from the adverse consequences of addiction.”

RMN’s 12StepSpace is based around the principles of a 12 step program, a set of guiding principles for addicts, by offering an online destination for group sessions, peer to peer relationships, and other treatment staples. It will offer addiction resources, 24-hour access to support, information, and referrals and a sense of belonging. RMN enables members to chat with other members, correspond via private message, create an online 12-step meeting, and generally communicate about topics related to addiction. Members will be able to maintain anonymity as users, enabling peer to peer discussion of personal situations, as well as spaces for art and music to be shared and viewed by other members. Membership is free and users can fill out an optional detailed profile.

“As someone in recovery, I envisioned 12StepSpace as an online destination where anyone seeking a lifestyle of recovery could find the support that is so essential to our success,” said John Baker, founder of 12stepspace.com. “Together with Hythiam and the Recovery Media Network we will be able to continue to serve our existing members and extend our platform to anyone interested in joining our community. All they will need is a computer and internet access.”

The other two sites that comprise the RMN are TreatmentPathways (www.treatmentpathways.com), a forum for public conversation on the various treatment pathways that individuals have successfully used towards their recovery, and AnonymousSpace (www.anonymousspace.com), a gallery of user-submitted, inspirational recovery-oriented artwork.

About Recovery Media, Inc.

Recovery Media, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hythiam that is devoted towards using the latest digital technologies towards the support of recovery. Recovery Media’s first initiative, the Recovery Media Network (RMN), includes 12StepSpace, a social networking site for recovering addicts and alcoholics. Founded by recovering individuals for recovering individuals, 12StepSpace is a social networking community designed to provide support for the millions of recovery minded individuals seeking support and fellowship from their peers. The other two sites that comprise RMN are TreatmentPathways (www.treatmentpathways.com), a forum for public conversation on the various treatment pathways that individuals have successfully used towards their recovery, and AnonymousSpace (www.anonymousspace.com), a gallery of user-submitted, inspirational recovery-oriented artwork.

About Hythiam, Inc.

Integrating both medical and psychosocial treatment modalities, Hythiam, Inc. provides comprehensive behavioral health management services to health plans, employers, criminal justice, and government agencies. With a focus on using the latest medical and health technology towards improved outcomes and out-patient treatment, the company manages all behavioral health disorders. The company also researches, develops, licenses and commercializes innovative and proprietary physiological, nutritional, and behavioral treatment programs. Hythiam currently offers disease management for substance dependence built around its proprietary PROMETA treatment programs for alcoholism and dependence to stimulants. The PROMETA treatment programs, which integrate behavioral, nutritional, and medical components, are available through licensed treatment providers. Hythiam does not practice medicine nor manufacture, distribute, or sell any medications and has no relationship with any manufacturers or distributors of medications used in the PROMETA programs. For further information, please visit www.hythiam.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company’s control that may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. These risk factors include, among others, limited operating history and lack of statistically significant formal research studies, the risk that treatment programs might not be effective, difficulty in developing, exploiting and protecting proprietary technologies, intense competition and substantial regulation in the healthcare industry; and additional risks factors as discussed in the reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on its website at http://www.sec.gov.
Contacts

Hythiam, Inc.
Ashely Anderson, Director, Corporate Communications
310-444-4343
aanderson {at} hythiam(.)com
or
Media Relations:
Dan Klores Communications
Tim Sullivan, 212-981-5234
tim_sullivan {at} dkcnews(.)com