Anthony's Way Foundation

It’s come to Our attention that there are individuals claiming many years in recovery who are giving advice to those just beginning their journey.

Let me be clear—recovery is deeply personal. No two paths are the same, because no two lives are the same. What helps one person may not help another.

Support meetings can be powerful, but they should also be safe. When what’s shared in confidence is repeated in the community, it breaks trust. For some, that causes anxiety, triggers, and even pushes them closer to using again. That’s not recovery—that’s harm.

And let’s talk about the uncomfortable truth… when meetings turn into social scenes or “13th stepping,” where newcomers are exploited—that is not support. That is predatory behavior.

No one should be telling someone to cut off healthy support systems. That’s not guidance—that’s control. And no one has the right to say there is only one path, one program, or one higher power. A person’s relationship with their higher power—whoever that may be—is their own, and it deserves respect.

If you’re giving advice, make sure you’re living it. Because real recovery isn’t about control, ego, or status—it’s about honesty, integrity, and helping others find what works for them.

Protect the newcomer. Respect the journey. Stay in your lane.

When asked about her son Anthony, who died from an opioid overdose, Gina remembers him as a great human being who struggled with a medical condition. People with addiction didn’t choose their diagnosis—but we can choose to support them on the journey to recovery.

Anthony's Way Foundation

We are incredibly grateful to share that we have been chosen as a recipient of the Opioid Settlement Grant through York County, PA. This investment reflects a shared commitment to healing, recovery, and saving lives. We thank York County for trusting us to be part of this critical work and for standing with those affected by substance use disorder.