P2R Episode 8 | From Teen Challenge Graduate to Chief Advancement Officer — Rebecca Mitchell on Faith-Based Recovery

Rebecca Mitchell is the Chief Advancement Officer at Adult and Teen Challenge USA — and a graduate of the very program she now helps lead. Before her national role, she spent over a decade running women's centers and served as director of the Walter Hoving Home in Garrison, New York.In this episode, Marcel and Rebecca discuss what makes Teen Challenge different from conventional treatment, why long-term residential programs outperform short-term options, and how the program has adapted to the fentanyl era. Rebecca also shares her own recovery story and explains what families should know before enrolling a loved one.Topics covered:- Rebecca's personal journey from addiction to 16+ years in recovery ministry- How Teen Challenge has evolved since 1958 to meet today's drug landscape- What a typical day looks like inside the program- Why spiritual transformation is central to lasting recovery- Whether non-Christians can enroll (and why they often succeed faster)- How Teen Challenge responds to critics of faith-based treatment- The science behind long-term residential care- Aftercare, community support, and what happens after graduation- Admission process, costs, and how to find a program near youTeen Challenge operates more than 210 centers across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over 1,000 locations worldwide through its international sister organizations.Find a Teen Challenge program: teenchallengeusa.orgCall: 855-END-ADDICTIONFrom Prevention to Recovery is hosted by Marcel Gemme — advocate and founder of SUPE (Substance Use Prevention Education), a nonprofit delivering evidence-based prevention education globally.