From Client to Recovery Coach: A Veteran's Story

William Eddins dreamed of a career where he could serve others. He joined the Marines and deployed to the Middle East. When he returned home, an old friend asked him to help him launch a new security company in New York City. But after arriving in the Big Apple, the Alabama native’s plans were derailed – by cocaine.

His introduction to drugs was the beginning of a long list of obstacles. His job with the security company fell through, and, without income, he became homeless. Fortunately, William found a temporary shelter where he could live until he could get himself back on his feet again.

Still, more challenges came his way. The woman he had been seeing was pregnant with twins. Thanks to the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, William had the funds to seek an affordable rental for himself and his new family. However, a tragic car accident took the life of one of his twins and he was too injured to work. Soon after, COVID hit.

“I was out of work, and that was when I got into trouble,” he recalls.

William continued to use cocaine in addition to marijuana, which he had used previously. Because of his addiction and an untreated mental health disorder, he began to commit a series of felonies. In time, he found himself standing in front of a judge at a Staten Island courthouse.

“I was mandated to go to outpatient treatment, but I was inconsistent with the meetings,” William explains. To ensure he followed through, residential treatment was the next recommendation. Yet, on the day of his admission, he was a no-show. So, the judge issued an ultimatum: inpatient treatment or eight years in prison. The choice was simple.

William found himself at Samaritan Daytop Village's Ed Thompson Veterans Center, one of two residential treatment programs for male veterans with substance use disorder. Initially resistant, William gave in to the experience after a few months. He had found a brotherhood he had not had since his time in the military. William saw powerful transformations happening daily, which inspired him.

“I really wanted to turn my life around,” he explained. “The clients put in the work and followed the rules. The turnarounds were like magic. They were a miracle to me.”

William took advantage of the volunteer opportunities and free courses offered to clients at the facility. He participated in the Veterans Programs’ Color Guard, took part in acting and improv at the Stella Adler Studio’s Outside/In program, and volunteered at the NYC Veterans Day Parade.

He also enjoyed Health & Wellness outings with the United War Veterans Council, Broadway shows thanks to TDF, and Recovery Club Day activities at PARC (Peer Alliance Recovery Center) in Queens.

Despite the packed calendar of activities, he made it a point to join fellow clients at meetings for the Samaritan Daytop Village Alumni Association. The group consisted of previous clients, now in recovery, who met weekly and served as mentors to current clients.

“Just from listening to their stories, I got so much out of my time at the Alumni meetings,” he admitted.” To be able to hear someone’s story and how similar it was to mine helped me.”

William’s first exposure to a recovery peer professional was through his first visit to one of PARC’s Recovery Club Days. Each Friday, the program in Queens held a sober-friendly activity for members to enjoy fun and fellowship together.

He appreciated the peers’ mentorship but had never considered a career as a Peer Recovery Professional until his Vocational Counselor recommended it. He learned he could be certified as a Recovery Coach and then fulfill the required intern hours – all at PARC. Once he completed treatment, a job could be waiting for him.

“She thought I would be great as a peer,” explained William, “and recommended taking PARC’s Recovery Coach Academy.”

As he thought about his life after treatment, William decided to apply for college instead. He was accepted and his tuition would be paid through the federal GI Bill’s educational assistance benefit. However, he missed his class registration deadline.

His mentor said PARC received funds from the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund and was offering a limited number of scholarships for its Recovery Coach Academy. William enrolled and attended the 30-hour course. Once certified, he began a Peer internship with them. Through all of this, William was still in treatment. By the time he finished his time at Ed Thompson in 2023, PARC had a job waiting for him in Queens.

Today William has a fresh start, a clean record, a home on Staten Island, and a family of two – Princess (6) and William, Jr. (5). He enjoys spending time with them and watching them grow. “Junior says he wants to grow up to be like me one day – a hero,” William says, “I hope he sees me in that same way in the future.”

These days you can find William working part-time at PARC in Queens as a Recovery Coach. PARC’s Assistant Director Patricia Benecke says William is doing well and is finding his style of coaching while striving for perfection.

He added, “Being at Samaritan really changed my view of what success means. I want to get as much as I can from this experience.”

He is looking at places where he can earn a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. Meanwhile, he wants to start training for a CASAC to one day serve fellow vets like him at the Ed Thompson Veterans Center.

“This is the first job I have had where I actually enjoyed it,” said William. “I have been proud to be part of something so big where I can make an impact on someone’s life. This is a place where I can help people get out of the darkness in the same way Samaritan did for me. Samaritan saved my life, and now I can help save others’ lives too.”

For employment opportunities, visit our Careers page or email hr@samaritanvillage.org.