How This Addiction Recovery Channel Grew to 1.3 Million + Monthly Views (Case Study)

If you're wondering how a niche channel focused on addiction recovery scaled to over 1.3 million monthly views, you're in the right place. In this case study, we break down the strategies that helped Addiction Mindset grow into a go-to resource for anyone struggling with addiction.

Whether you're in the recovery space, health and wellness, or looking to grow a YouTube channel in a tough niche, these lesssons apply.

Understanding the Channel: What is Addiction Mindset?

Founded by Dr. Frank Michalski, Addiction Mindset provides education, personal stories, and expert advice on overcoming addiction.

The channel covers topics like:

• Quitting nicotine (vaping,smoking,chewing tobacco)
• Marijuana addiction
• Porn addiction
• Substance abuse
• Mental health struggles linked to addiction

Why This Niche is So Challenging (and Rewarding)

Addiction recovery is heavily competitive with big players like rehabs, doctors, and therapists creating content. It’s also sensitive, meaning content must balance storytelling, empathy, and education, while working within YouTube’s guidelines.

Yet, Addiction Mindset cracked the code. Here's how:

1. Hyper-Specific Niching and Keyword Targeting

Many creators start broad. Addiction Mindset did the opposite - focusing on one addiction at a time.

Early videos centered around nicotine addiction and quitting vaping - highly searchable topics with a clear audience. By dominating these keywords, the channel built momentum before expanding into THC addiction, porn addiction, and alcohol recovery.

2. Relatable Storytelling & Authority

Dr. Frank's content works because it's authentic. He shares:

• His personal experiences with addiction
• Client stories
• Candid advice without preaching

This builds trust and authority, which is crucial in the addiction space where viewers are skeptical of generic advice. Videos like “Depression After Quitting Smoking Weed” or “The Truth About Vaping Withdrawals” hit hard because they feel personal.

3. High-Performing Titles and Thumbnails Designed for Clicks

Addiction Mindset mastered YouTube CTR (click-through rate) by using emotional trigger words (WITHDRAWAL, PAIN, ROCK BOTTOM), Face thumbnails showing strong emotions and clear value propositions like "How I quit Vaping for Good"

The titles answer the exact search queries of someone struggling like "Is Weed Ruining Your Life?" or "What Happens 1 Year After Quitting Vaping?"

4. Creating Evergreen Content

Most videos are evergreen, meaning they're still relevant months or even years later.

Evergreen topics like withdrawal symptoms, relapse prevention, and how to quit consistently drive traffic from search and suggested videos.

5. Tapping Into YouTube Shorts

Dr.Frank also heavily leveraged YouTube Shorts when it first released to:

• Boost discoverability
• Reach younger audiences
• Pull viewers into longer-form content

Shorts around “The best way to quit nicotine” or “Is vaping actually bad for you?” act as top-of-funnel content, pulling new subscribers in daily

Results: 207,000 Subscribers & 1.3 Million Monthly Views

With consistent uploads, sharp SEO, and a niche focus, Addiction Mindset grew into one of the largest addiction recovery channels on YouTube, serving millions of views monthly and changing lives in the process.