Who We Are

Founded in February 2019, Pink Cloud Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Minneapolis, MN.

Serving the Twin Cities metro area, and surrounding communities, we provide recovery housing assistance, support services, and other critical resources to individuals transitioning from in-patient substance abuse treatment centers, or correctional facilities, to a "Recovery Residence". We also partner with many other nonprofit organizations across the state to assist anyone seeking long term recovery from addiction or Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

"Pink Cloud" references a phenomenon first coined in the early years of Alcoholics Anonymous, and now commonly found in psychiatric and medical literature, known as "Pink Cloud Syndrome".

Pink Cloud Syndrome is defined as "the state of mind, usually experienced in early sobriety (Day 14 to 45)", characterized by extreme happiness, sudden clarity, and overconfidence. This "natural high" feels very similar to the "high" we felt during our time in active use of drugs and/or alcohol.

Although this "Pink Cloud" phase can be a very positive experience, there can be many pitfalls associated with it as well.  Most notably,  

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS), which often follows the "pink cloud", can create many potential dangers for those who aren’t prepared for it. PAWS represents the lingering effects of drug and alcohol addiction as your brain slowly heals itself and the rest of your body.

Some symptoms lasting from a few months to a couple of years, might include: Depression, Anxiety, Trouble Sleeping, and Mood Swings.

Due to these erratic swings of emotion, it's important to note that a person's highest likelihood of a return-to-use (relapse) is during, or directly after, this "pink cloud" phase.  Coincidentally, it is often during this vulnerable "pink cloud" phase, that many individuals are completing their in-patient program and being discharged from a treatment facility.  This is why a smooth transition to recovery housing is crucial during this delicate time.

 After identifying a serious gap in available resources, and seeing a need for energetic, nonprofit work in this area, we formed our organization to create sensible solutions, provide critical resources, and remove the unnecessary barriers confronting those seeking assistance during the early stages of their recovery.

To learn more about how our Founders uncovered this need, we encourage you to read our full story, HERE.

Click HERE to see our Mission & Vision Statements, and learn what ways you can help!