In his late teens, Joe Cavallo's life took a dark turn. A traumatic experience pushed him towards substance use and isolation, and legal troubles only added to his struggles. But at a crucial turning point, he found hope in an unexpected place: the Hedgerow House.

"My first exposure to recovery and treatment was when I was in some legal trouble around 19, 20 years old, and I ended up at Hedgerow House in Ballston Spa, which is a community residence run by RISE," Cavallo recalls.

Cavallo’s life took a transformative path when he connected with RISE Saratoga, a leading human service agency providing comprehensive support to address mental health and substance use concerns. RISE's safe housing, personalized assistance and coordinated care became the pillars of Cavallo’s recovery journey.

"I decided to take that extra step and really let some men that were close to me and in my life mentor me and kind of take their example and put it into action in my own life," Cavallo said.

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports more 70,000 annual substance abuse overdose deaths, a number increasing by 4% yearly. Inspired by his own recovery, Cavallo combats this issue by mentoring others and providing rides to Celebrate Recovery gatherings at Pine Grove Church. His compassion highlights the power of community and resilience in the fight against substance abuse.

"It's a space where I can be vulnerable and open up to others, but also be able to mentor and guide others in early recovery," Cavallo said.

According to the Recovery Research Institute, more than 20 million Americans are in recovery from substance abuse. Among them is Cavallo, whose life was transformed through his journey with RISE Saratoga. This experience not only changed his life, but also sparked a passion for advocating for others.

"I think for family members or community members out there that may not understand the ins and outs of substance use or mental health disorders, I would just encourage them that anybody can recover. Don't give up on the folks you love," Cavallo urged.

Through Cavallo’s own journey of recovery, he has become a mentor and advocate for others.