Recovery on Demand

02/20/2026

Only slipped once today on my walk as I thought about how people deserve more than what is popular.

They deserve what is proven and genuinely evidence-based.

Just because an approach is common, well-liked, or long-standing in recovery settings does not mean it produces strong outcomes.

When many of us entered this field, we were trained in certain models. Those models shaped how we think, how we speak, and how we help. They became part of our professional identity. It’s natural for helpers to stay loyal to what first made sense to us.

But familiar does not automatically mean effective. We need to keep a pulse on what the needs of today look like. When someone’s stability, health, or life is at risk, we owe them more than tradition.

At the same time, the phrase evidence-based is being stretched thin. Reflecting on my own journey, I’ve realized it seems to be attached to almost everything. The door for its usage has been opened wider and wider. The term is repeated so often that it can start to function more like marketing than methodology.

Evidence-based practice is not a label. And admittedly, I’ve been guilty of using the term too lightly myself.

It requires ongoing measurement, critical thinking, and the integration of research, clinical skill, and the lived experience of the person in front of us. It means being willing to adjust when outcomes are not there. It means asking, “Is this actually helping?”

It’s especially important today because the landscape of addiction has changed significantly.

The drug supply is more dangerous than it used to be. More people are carrying deep, unresolved trauma. Few universities require professionals to take addiction courses as apart of their university training. Housing is unstable for many, and often doesn’t exist. The cost of living adds stress that didn’t exist at the same level years ago. All of this affects recovery. So even approaches that were once considered “best practice” by certain organizations or groups may need to be strengthened or adjusted today.

We also have to remember that people are not all the same. A teenager struggling with va**ng or cannabis is different from a middle-aged professional hiding alcohol use. Someone living without stable housing faces different barriers than someone with strong family support. Culture, community, and life experience all shape how treatment lands. And ultimately, each person is unique.

Evidence should guide us, and it doesn’t have to be deployed mechanically. It can be thoughtful. It can be human.

Familiar feels safe. Popular sounds convincing. But proven and truly evidence-based — that’s where lives have a greater chance at recovery.

📷 MaritimesMaven

01/25/2026

I stole this thought from a new psychiatrist friend of mine, and have been letting it sink in deeper every day this week.

“What a privilege it is to be tired from the work you dreamed of doing, challenged by the opportunities you mustered the courage to chase, and full of the purpose you always hoped to find.”

I’m so grateful for the teams, individuals, and organizations that show up for Canada and make Recovery possible for those in addiction.

With a fresh year ahead, I cannot wait for the stories of hope that are to come.

Photo cred: Sadie Dunnett

01/12/2026

Five things that stood out last year and reinforced my love for recovery:

1. Nearly every day, someone sought me out just to share good news.

2. Witnessing numerous families share of their regained hope at rehab graduations.

3. Seeing over 100 individuals secure housing and receive integrated support.

4. Helping a number of substance use centres develop their program.

5. Having 20 networking & learning lunches with inspiring, mission-driven professionals.

A small glimpse into a long list of gratitudes that will keep my passion hot as I walk into this new year.

12/29/2025

Leaving you with one last update before year-end. Meet Zoe! She is a wonderful counseling therapist and friend to Recovery on Demand.

Zoe will support our projects with substance use facilities in New Brunswick, whether it be care model development, professional learning, or consultation.

Along with Zoe, we are glad to have four clinicians and other support professionals in our circle to do this wonderful work.

We cannot wait to be part of the recovery journeys that are to come in 2026.

Appreciate you! Thank you for reading.

12/26/2025

As we close out the year, it’s time to share a quick look at what happened in 2026.

✔️ Recovery on Demand is supporting a multi-site residential recovery centre, providing program development and consultation.

✔️ 10+ families received family recovery coaching and invitational intervention support.

✔️ 25+ individuals were seen and supported as they navigated recovery systems and were connected to care that matches their needs, goals, and capacity.

✔️ Rise Recovery Program was launched with our partner centre and is moving through its early stages:
• Program model and manual designed
• Client workbook first draft completed
• Four clinicians trained, soon to be five.
• Counsellor manual currently in development

✔️ We expanded our circle of colleagues, building relationships with remarkable professionals across the field. New Brunswick is fortunate to have the social workers, counsellors, and doctors we do.

Again a tiny brand but a small glimpse of what this page represents besides posting thoughts, events, and updates.

Thank you followers and recovery people!

12/09/2025

It feels like a good time to reintroduce ourselves at north of 700 followers, and share why this page exists.

I’m David, and if you’ve spent time in the housing or recovery world, you may know this isn’t my primary work. Recovery on Demand (originally my business, Envision Freedom Recovery) continues to exist as a response to the many referrals and requests for support I receive each year from individuals and organizations.

I lead a small team, alongside a partnering counselling centre, to support the recovery needs of individuals, families, and organizations in NB.

1. We function as a “front door” for those navigating the huge pipeline of support systems, who are wondering where to start.

2. We offer ground-level, in-person or home based recovery options for individuals and families needing intervention.

3. With the counselling centre, we offer a 10 week outpatient recovery counselling program that can fit into your full life or be offered to rehab facilities virtually for their residents.

4. At the organizational level, we love working with substance-use facilities by developing programs with best practices, and offering consultation & professional learning to teams.

Most services are covered by blue cross. The rest cash. However, all services within these two teams have a recovery sliding scale price or non profit discount compared to usual fees.

My heart is simple: I want recovery to be accessible. My small team, our partnering counselling centre, and the professionals I refer to all invest in ongoing specialized training and share a genuine love for people pursuing recovery.

Just wanted to introduce ourselves again.

Btw, everyone else does most of the work 🙂

12/06/2025

I had a great visit today with Holly, Horizon’s Director of Addiction and Mental Health. We caught up on partnership updates, and she toured me through the Ridgewood Recovery care centres. The highlight for me was meeting some of the wonderful staff, and seeing Holly’s genuine heart for community development.

The thought we ended with was the hope of seeing our community become more recovery-inclusive and move beyond working in silos.

Teamwork gets things done.

12/01/2025

A step in the right direction. EHN is known for its quality care and utilization of best practices.

A new 50-bed treatment facility is moving ahead on the Kingston Peninsula, doubling our live-in treatment capacity and giving more people a safe, compassionate place to heal and recover. Every person deserves dignity and access to help when they need it, and this is an important step in supporting New Brunswickers living with addiction.

https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2025.12.0544.html

11/24/2025

I’m pleased to share that Luke is joining the Envision Freedom Recovery (Recovery on Demand) team part-time as our Project & Client Services Coordinator.

Luke is well-known in our community for his genuine care for people in recovery. Alongside of being involved in recovery circles, he also holds an undergraduate degree focused on counselling and psychology.

In this role, he will support our team in our work with organizational partners and family clients. This includes project planning, implementation, and administrative support as demand continues to grow.

This past year has been a blessing, as Envision Freedom Recovery has had the opportunity to support multiple organizations in consulting and program development. We remain committed to addressing substance use concerns in different levels while staying grounded in trauma-informed and evidence-based practice.

Evidence, evidence, evidence.

Welcome to the team, Luke!

11/23/2025

I joined a friend today to support the FHS 5km. It was meaningful to contribute to a good cause and to be part of the Fredericton community. Interestingly, the moment that stayed with me most came while running, thinking about the people the shelters serve and, at times, about my own experiences supporting individuals. As the runner’s high faded, I became more aware of the cold, the wind, and simply what it felt like to be outside. Even that brief discomfort offered a small glimpse into the challenges many Canadians face daily.

I tend to view support through a developmental lens—focusing on addressing challenges and helping people move forward, rather than simply managing or maintaining the problems they’re facing.

I’m continually reminded of how capable people are of moving forward when they have the right supports in place (housing, community, treatment, etc).

My donation on its own is small, but conversations with other runners afterward showed that many of us were reflecting in similar ways. Together, those reflections added a bit more understanding to an issue that so many organizations, communities, and professionals work tirelessly to address.

Being unhoused is not an identity, and everyone deserves a home. When a community gets involved the problem of homelessness can be addressed.

Thanks for listening.

11/09/2025

Popped into the grand opening of a non-profit dedicated to recovery aftercare, and bumped into familar faces advancing recovery efforts in our province.

Alot of laughing, encouraging, and discussion around the need for evidence based approaches.

Adam Beman, Executive Director of Hidden Secret,
Jeremy Robinson, Executive Director of Threshold,
Holly Richard, Horizon's New Brunswick Director of Addiction and Mental Health.

11/08/2025

A picture. My photographer. A tribute to a friend.

This photo isn’t just a snapshot of a moment — it’s a reminder of how deeply important and challenging the work is in addiction treatment.

I still remember the call that started my supervision placement — someone needed help, and no one else had experience or training in supporting SUD’s. Something about that moment pushed me to not only show up, but to make support more accessible and affordable.

My friend (Brody), the photographer behind this picture, jumped in right away to help me get the word out. Some quick, “shotgun” marketing, he called it. He just wanted people to know help was available.

He passed last year from substance-related causes and other difficult circumstances. Recovery was part of his story too. He was kind, joyful, and always eager to do something good — like this.

This coming March marks five years since I began my private practice work as an addictions counsellor, after already spending three years in the field in different roles.

Since that day, I’ve had the privilege to sit with so many incredible people, work with great teams, and this past year, co-found Fredericton’s newest outpatient program: Rise Recovery.

People have joined, organizations have even sponsored some individual’s programs, and in 2026, it will be offered to rehabilitation centres that do not have addiction counsellors on staff.

It is specialized, evidence-based, professionally lead, and about one-fourth the average cost. Most importantly, it was designed with people who hold lived experience. It is uniquely designed as a structured program that is also tailored to each person’s story and needs.

This isn’t meant as self-promotion. It’s just a reminder that what began years ago with a friend’s support has kept moving forward — each step still focused on the same mission: helping one more person recover and removing the barriers in their way.

*My friend’s father Rick LeBlanc was comfortable with the post, and wanted Brody’s name share