JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Pete Carcione is now in recovery after starting with an addiction to marijuana at 12.

"I was addicted to fentanyl and methamphetamine. It affected pretty much all areas of my life," Carcione said.

And it led him down a path of isolation.

"I just didn't feel comfortable being around certain people and I kind of just stayed by myself for a long time," he said.

Facing legal issues, Carcione decided it was time to turn his life around and join the Mental Health Association's SMART Recovery program.

The SMART Recovery program is a national program based on research, behavioral therapy and scientific principles, not a traditional faith-based 12-step program, giving Carcione more control of his recovery.

"Like-minded people around here that you can communicate with and you can go through your everyday problems with someone else that's been there as well," said Carcione.

Krystina Papasserge has facilitated the group since it started in May.

"With hope and empowerment. To help individuals that have behavioral or addiction problems, to bring different tools and techniques into their toolbox to be able to handle life's struggles and tackle whatever comes at them," said Papasserge.

Papasserge herself is two years clean from her addiction to alcohol and anything to numb the pain from losing her alcoholic parents. She's helping others after friends and family urged her to get help too.

"And that's what I did and I haven't looked back since. So, if we can bring hope and a sense of belonging to the community. So if we can get connected to as many resources, community-wise, be a productive member of society, that's the ultimate goal," said Papasserge.

MHA's Steven Cobb brought the structured program to Jamestown, where participants can meet face-to-face or online no matter where they are in their recovery.

"If you go to a meeting in Buffalo, or you go to a meeting in Syracuse, or any place across the state, you're going to know exactly what to expect," Cobb said. "So it's the same format, the goals that people and the techniques that people work on in SMART recovery will be identifiable to everyone."

Carcione, now more than seven months clean and grateful to the program and his family, encourages others to try it, and no longer thinks about where he'd be without it.

"It's given me another chance to get things right and to live a full life and the things that everybody deserves," said Carcione.

Part of the SMART Recovery program also includes community reinforcement and family training, or CRAFT program, designed for friends and family of those still suffering from addiction.