Provider Spotlight: Andrew Roberts – From Crack Addiction in 1980s NYC to CEO of a Top Treatment Center

What are the odds of getting a random LinkedIn message that leads you back to the very place where you rebuilt your life? For Andrew Roberts, CEO of High Watch Recovery Center, that’s exactly what happened.

High Watch Recovery Center, founded in 1939, is one of the longest-standing nonprofit addiction treatment centers in the U.S., rooted in 12-step recovery and dedicated to helping people heal through spiritual, clinical, and holistic approaches.

In this powerful conversation, Andrew takes us through his decades-long sobriety journey—from getting sober at 20, drinking again after 14 years over a single drink, and ultimately finding his way back to leadership, purpose, and service. In this episode, Andrew shares:

• Losing his father at a young age—the trauma that set him on a path to substance abuse.

• Surviving the underbelly of 1980s New York, lost in addiction to crack and heroin.

• From Columbia University to rock bottom—how he went from the Ivy Leagues to long-term treatment.

• The deep link between trauma and addiction, and how early loss shaped his struggle.

• A powerful story of redemption involving a marriage, a divorce, and a rehab.

• His take on harm reduction, 12-step recovery, and the evolving landscape of addiction treatment.

This episode is about grace, resilience, and the power of recovery. Whether you’re in the trenches, working in the field, or just want to hear a wild story of redemption and second chances, please give this conversation a listen. 

For more information about Highwatch Recovery, please visit here: https://highwatchrecovery.org/

Connect with Zac

https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/

https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark

https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553

https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

(914) 588-6564

releaserecovery.com

@releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices