Live Free Adolescent and Peer Recovery: Empowering Teens in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine Toward Healthier Futures

In a world where many recovery programs focus purely on abstinence, Live Free Adolescent Recovery (Newton, New Hampshire) is taking a broader view. Their mission? To make sobriety a tool, not the ultimate goal. Their work is about building balanced lives—social, academic, emotional, and occupational—through clinically supported peer recovery.

Who They Are

• Live Free Recovery started as a school‐based adolescent peer recovery support program here in Newton. Its purpose: to fill the gap between what’s often taught in treatment and what adolescents actually need in real world recovery. Live Free Recovery+1

• Their staff bring lived experience. Every team member has been where many clients are, which helps them meet people not just academically or clinically—but humanly. Live Free Recovery

Why Their Approach Makes a Difference

1. Peer Leaders Who’ve Been There One of the unique strengths of Live Free is integrating same-age peer leaders in recovery. Teens in the program work with others who are a little ahead in their recovery journey. That can build trust, reduce stigma, and make recovery feel more “doable.”

2. Holistic Life Goals, Not Just Sobriety Sobriety is framed not as an end, but as a foundation for better living. Clients are supported in social, academic, and occupational goals, as well as emotional well-being.

3. Family Involvement & Support The healing process includes caregivers, parents, and the family network. For many teens, recovery is deeply affected by what’s happening at home, so offering support there is crucial. Live Free Recovery+1

4. Accessibility & Lifelong Contact Features like 24-hour access, social events, and lifetime contact help prevent isolation and relapse. Recovery isn’t a finite “program” but a journey.

Final Thoughts

Live Free Recovery isn’t just a treatment center—it’s a community built for teens, by people who’ve lived through similarly difficult circumstances. It’s about meeting them where they are, offering real tools, and helping them build a life they want to live. For families looking for adolescent substance abuse support in NH, their approach offers hope, accountability, and a path forward.