We’re glad you’re here.
At Odyssey House, we believe in transparency, community, and celebrating progress. Our News Archive is a place where you can explore the stories that have shaped our work—milestones in recovery, moments of advocacy, community events, and the voices of those we serve.
Whether you’re a long-time supporter or just learning about us, this archive offers a window into the heart of our mission.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Newsletters – Browse through years of Odyssey House News, our twice-yearly publication highlighting client achievements, program updates, and staff stories.
- Event Coverage – See recaps and photos from our 5K run, art openings, community celebrations, and special gatherings.
- Recognition & Impact – Read about awards, partnerships, and the measurable impact of our programs.
- Archives by Month – Looking for something specific? Use the filter to find what you’re looking for quickly.
How to Navigate:
- Use the sidebar menu or dropdown to select a specific year or topic.
- Click on any headline to read the full post.
- Want to read our most recent updates? Head to the main news page for the latest stories.
If you have questions or are looking for something you can’t find, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help.
Thank you for being part of the Odyssey House community. We hope you enjoy exploring our story.
Addiction & Mental Health News, Mar 29
USA Today: As nation struggles with opioid crisis, workers bring addiction to the job Charisse Jones and Jayne O'Donnell A new survey from DrugAbuse.com, which offers educational content and recovery resources to people dealing with addiction, found that 23 percent of...
Odyssey House executive honored by national organization
The NYC Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NYC) presented Odyssey House EVP/Chief Operating Officer John Tavolacci with the Emerald Award at their 12th Annual Leadership Dinner. NASW-NYC, through its annual Leadership Awards, recognizes social...
Run the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon with Team Odyssey!
We are excited to announce that Odyssey House has been selected as an official charity partner of the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon! Though we’ve had more than 500 runners represent Odyssey House in the marathon over the past 10+ years, this is our first time as a...
This March at the Recovery Center
Here is a sneak peek of some upcoming events at our Recovery Center in the Bronx. You can download a pdf of the full schedule in English and in Spanish to see everything we have to offer. Women's Month Celebration Saturday, March 16th Stand Up for Recovery Day...
New Outpatient Services brochures now available
Brochures are now available for three of our new Outpatient services: the Recovery Center, Family Support Navigator, and Medication-Assisted Treatment. The Odyssey House Recovery Center promotes long-term recovery through skill building, recreation, wellness...
Mother’s Day Awards Breakfast 2019
Join us in recognizing our business and community partners whose commitment to recovery strengthens families throughout NYC. Wednesday, May 8 9 - 11 AM Program begins at 10 am George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery 13 Hell Gate Circle, Wards Island, NYC 10035...
Odyssey House artist featured on News 12 The Bronx
A member of the Odyssey House Art Project, Jack Cooperman, was featured in News 12 The Bronx today. Check out the story below! Morrisania ‘catman’ paints murals of cats in need of loving homes One Bronx man, who takes care of the stray cats in his neighborhood, has...
Addiction & Mental Health News, Feb. 8
CNN: White House prioritizes opioid abuse in first national drug control strategy By Maegan Vazquez The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy outlined its top priorities for combating illicit drug abuse and distribution in the United States in the...
Coming up at the Recovery Center, Feb. 2019
Here is a sneak peek of some upcoming events at our Recovery Center in the Bronx. You can download a pdf of the full schedule in English and in Spanish to see everything we have to offer. Mondays: Women’s Peer Group @ 1 pm Yoga / Meditation @ 2pm (biweekly) Tuesdays:...
Overcoming a stubborn barrier to treatment
Odyssey House President Dr. Peter Provet discusses the importance of medication-assisted treatment to reducing opioid overdose deaths in response to a recent article in The New York Times. “This City’s Overdose Deaths Have Plunged. Can Others Learn From It?” (News,...
De Blasio commits $8M to address opioid epidemic in the Bronx
By Jonathan Lamantia Crain's New York Business Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday the city will allocate $8 million in response to the still-rising death rate from opioid overdoses in the Bronx. The funding will support an advertising campaign on the dangers of the...
Happy Holidays from Odyssey House
Peace, Love, and Understanding As we prepare to celebrate the holiday season with our families, we thank you for your support and encouragement. This year, in the midst of a devastating opioid epidemic, we’ve helped save the lives of more than a thousand New Yorkers...
Crystal’s Story
CRYSTAL: BRONX “After the birth of my third child, I knew I needed help. My addiction was keeping me from being the mother my children deserved.” In search of a safe place to raise her children while she worked on her recovery, Crystal came into the Odyssey House...
Jose’s Story
JOSE: BRONX Jose, 20, is a family-oriented person who has always worked to make his parents’ lives easier. When the chance to make fast money arose, Jose thought he saw an opportunity. In reality it was the beginning of a life controlled by addiction. “I knew that...
Anna’s Story
ANNA: BRONX When Anna thinks back to the night that brought her here, when police found her unconscious in her living room, she shakes her head. “It was the lowest point of my life.” Her addiction nearly cost her life, her independence, and her relationship with her...
Jasmine’s Story
JASMINE: QUEENS When Jasmine, 25, entered Odyssey House Lafayette Avenue, she doubted the program would benefit her. By the time she completed treatment, she knew it was the place she needed. This was her chance to learn how to live a substance-free life, and she...
Angel’s Story
ANGEL: BRONX Angel, 60, had completed our ElderCare program before, but after four months of sobriety, he felt like he could test the waters and prove to himself that he could handle one drink. “It was such a mistake,” Angel recalls, as one drink led to another. “It...
Phillip’s Story
Phillip: Queens When Phillip, 33, struggling with his party lifestyle and crystal meth use, said he needed more support, his outpatient program referred him to Odyssey House. Since arriving at the Manor, Phillip has become an active member of the community. His hard...
Kim’s Story
KIM: HARLEM Kim, 56, has always been the caretaker of her family and friends, as her supportive nature made others count on her. However, after the loss of her husband and the traumatic experience of one of her children dying, she was the one in need of support....
Sylvester’s Story
Sylvester: Queens Sylvester, 33, needed help. His opiate addiction had left him “hanging on by a thread,” to his family, to his apartment, to his sense of self. “It wasn’t me anymore,” he says, reflecting on who he had become. While sober, Sylvester worked as a...
Kyle’s Story
KYLE: BROOKLYN Before Kyle, 30, came to Odyssey House, he had been struggling with his drinking and cocaine use for 10 years. He had tried multiple short-term programs but did not get the support he needed, and he continued to relapse despite his best efforts to stay...
Corey’s Story
COREY: HARLEM Corey, 27, was born and raised in Michigan, but after a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his son and father, he needed a break. Thinking a change of scenery would give him a fresh start, Corey moved to New York and started working for...
Pat’s Story
PAT: BRONX Born and raised in the Bronx, Pat, 27, has always been very hands-on in all aspects of his life. This includes working for his father’s construction company, with the hope of eventually running it himself. However, like many others who struggle with...
Aaron’s Story
AARON: LONG ISLAND “This is my last chance,” Aaron says when he talks about his time here at Odyssey House. “I never want to disappoint myself or my family again, so I’m making each day in treatment count.” Aaron, 25, came to Odyssey House after being mandated for...
Heaven’s Story
HEAVEN: HARLEM Heaven, 23, didn’t think her drug use was a problem, but when her second son was born with marijuana in his system she knew it was time for things to change. Two days after her son’s birth, she entered the Odyssey House Family Center to address her...
Rebecca’s Story
REBECCA: BRONX After graduating from Odyssey House in 2006, Rebecca, 65, never thought she’d be here again. But following a few years of sober living, Rebecca stopped following her treatment plan and relapsed. When other programs failed, and knowing that it helped her...
Rolfi’s Story
ROLFI: BRONX Rolfi’s infectious smile and positive attitude are not what someone would typically associate with a recovering alcoholic and cocaine addict. Rolfi’s addiction had taken over his life, and after the loss of his cousin to a drug overdose, he knew it was...
Alonzo’s Story
ALONZO: HARLEM Alonzo, 68, is a quiet man, yet his eyes tell the story of a 50-year long struggle with heroin addiction. After a drug-related arrest, he was offered treatment at Odyssey House as an alternative to incarceration. Seeing this as his final opportunity,...
Jean’s Story
JEAN: BRONX Jean, 13, started to go down the wrong path at a young age. After being introduced to marijuana, his behavior began to change; he became disobedient, secretive, and indifferent towards school. His wake-up call came after he and his close friend,...
Eddie’s Story
EDDIE: BROOKLYN “I feel like I can finally breathe,” says Eddie, 60. For him, our Park Avenue housing program has become his refuge. For more than two decades, Eddie has been looking for a home where he could feel safe and focus on his recovery. He used alcohol to...