Client Recovery Spotlight: Robert Wilkinson

For Robert Wilkinson, recovery has been a years-long battle marked by relapse, loss, and resilience. After struggling with alcohol and opiates, cycling through treatment programs across the country, and facing devastating personal tragedies, Robert ultimately found his way back through the New England Recovery Center (NERC). Today, he’s thriving in his own recovery and helping others do the same.

Early Struggles with Addiction

Robert grew up in a family where drinking was normalized. Both of his parents were high-functioning alcoholics, and alcohol was ever-present at home. As a teenager, he was a standout athlete and attended a military prep school in Virginia, but his substance misuse escalated once he returned to public school. Experimenting with cannabis and alcohol soon gave way to opiates by his senior year of high school, starting a downward spiral that left him homeless by age 21.

“I was so far out of control, I didn’t even realize how bad it had become,” Robert recalls. A failed attempt at a fresh start in Arizona left him stranded and misusing heavily. At his lowest point, he called his mother to say goodbye, intent on ending his life. Instead, she bought him a plane ticket back to Boston, a decision that became his first real chance at recovery.

The “Florida Shuffle”

Through a referral from a psychiatric unit in Boston, Robert entered a treatment program in Florida. What promised hope instead revealed a darker reality: the so-called “South Florida Shuffle,” a cycle of patient trafficking where struggling individuals were bounced between exploitative facilities and halfway houses for insurance dollars.

“It was more of a scam than treatment,” Robert says. “Patients became a form of currency.”

Still, after years of cycling through these programs, he found one facility that truly helped. He stabilized, built a career in digital marketing, and lived independently. But when his girlfriend overdosed and passed away, Robert began misusing again. Recognizing that Florida was a dangerous environment, he left everything behind and drove back to Massachusetts.

Alcohol Takes Hold

Robert stayed away from opiates after 2016, but alcohol soon became the replacement. At first, he appeared functional: working, driving, and maintaining his own place. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, long work hours and stress fueled a dangerous dependence.

What began as nightly drinking escalated into a round-the-clock necessity. Two DUIs, a serious workplace accident, and a string of hospital visits underscored the severity of his alcoholism. “I was literally sitting in a hospital bed in a neck brace, drinking straight from a handle of vodka,” Robert admits.

Finding Support at NERC

Robert’s first stay at NERC came during this period, as he tried to save his job by seeking detox. Instead, he found a place that felt different from anywhere he had been before.

“The staff at NERC were incredible from the moment I walked through the door,” Robert says. “I was lost, but they made me feel understood and gave me a path forward.”

Although he wasn’t ready to fully commit at the time, NERC became a recurring lifeline. Over the next two years, Robert returned 11 times. The true turning point came in January 2023, after the deaths of both his brother and his beloved dog left him spiraling toward suicide.

This time, he gave up his apartment, told staff he was “all done,” and asked them to tell him what to do. With the help of his case manager, Robert transitioned into the Carl E. Dahl House, a therapeutic farming program in Gardner, Massachusetts.

A Full-Circle Transformation

At Carl E. Dahl House, Robert embraced every suggestion: working the steps, attending daily meetings, and accepting support. He graduated after six months and moved to a sober house nearby. Soon after, he joined the farm’s staff, coming full circle from participant to mentor.

“It was transformative,” said Robert. “I was helping guys who were in the same position I was a year ago. That’s when everything clicked.”

Today, Robert continues his recovery with the same dedication. He holds a service position in his homegroup, speaks regularly at commitments across Massachusetts, and works closely with his sponsor.

The Power of Asking for Help

Robert’s candid about what finally made the difference: surrender and support.

“Ask for help and get comfortable being uncomfortable,” he advises. “I always thought I was smarter than the program, but the truth is simple. If you don’t drink, ask for help, and go to meetings, your life can change. Mine did.”

Now thriving, Robert embraces each day of recovery as a gift. And while he acknowledges addiction will always be part of his story, it no longer defines who he is.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or co-occurring disorders, call the New England Recovery Center today at 1-877-MyRehab.