These are stressful times. And we all have our ways of coping. Too often, though, relief comes in the form of unhealthy habits and behaviors. Substance misuse in this country is on the rise, with almost 60 million teens and adults reporting habitual or excessive use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco and nicotine products each year.

Many folks likely don’t recognize they have a problem — not least because substance misuse is a spectrum, from smoking through unhealthy drinking to clinical substance use disorders. Even those who do realize that it’s time to modify their behavior often cannot get the help they need. Stigma plays a part, but accessibility is a more pressing factor.

Thus was born the idea for Pelago, a virtual clinic that partners with employers to provide individual and discreet treatment at scale. Founded by three physicians with deep knowledge of the causes and consequences of dependence (as well as best practices for treatment), Pelago puts substance use management at the fingertips of those who need it most.