About DRS

DRS has no affiliation with any treatment provider. Every visitor is free to contact any program directly, there’s never any obligation to call our hotline or attend a specific treatment. When you reach out for help, the choice is entirely yours.

At DRS, our mission is to connect you with reliable, ethical, and high-quality resources for substance use treatment. We never list programs we wouldn’t recommend to one of our own loved ones. Be cautious of facilities that promise a quick fix or immediately focus on your finances, both can signal that your best interests aren’t their priority.

Every piece of educational content on Addicted.org is written or reviewed by professionals with firsthand experience in addiction care. Our medical review team, led by Dr. Rohit Adi (MD) and Michael Leach (CCMA), ensures all information reflects the latest research, evidence-based practices, and public health data.

Content is updated regularly, fact-checked, and guided by reputable sources like SAMHSA, NIDA, and peer-reviewed journals.

Our team has spent thousands of hours researching to build one of the most complete and ethical directories of addiction treatment providers in North America. Each listing is vetted, verified, and continuously reviewed to ensure accuracy and trust. Our team continuously reviews centers to ensure the information you seek is up to date. If you spot an error, our editorial team welcomes corrections directly at communications@addicted.org and we act promptly to review and update it.

While helping people find recovery is at the heart of what we do, education and prevention are just as vital. Recovery begins with knowledge. Many of our team members have lived or worked through addiction firsthand, that perspective shapes everything we create. Through this experience, we develop resources that inform, empower, and prevent addiction before it starts, always grounded in empathy and real-world understanding.

For over 20 years, Marcel Gemme has dedicated his life to helping people overcome addiction and rebuild their lives. His journey began in 2000 as an intake counselor at a drug rehabilitation center, where he saw firsthand how overwhelming and isolating the recovery process can be. Determined to reach more people than he could one-on-one, Marcel launched his first addiction resource website in 2004. As the need for reliable information and ethical guidance grew, he founded Drug Rehab Services (DRS) in 2009 and created Addicted.org, now one of North America’s leading hubs for substance use resources.

Marcel’s vision for DRS is built on three pillars, education, prevention, and rehabilitation, reflecting his belief that recovery begins with understanding and compassion. Over the years, his work has helped thousands of families find trustworthy information, ethical treatment options, and renewed hope for recovery.

Since the inception of DRS, Nicole Landry has been an integral part of its mission to help individuals and families overcome life’s challenges with compassion and understanding. Married to founder Marcel Gemme, she spent over 15 years working as a counselor, providing guidance and practical solutions to life’s challenges. Her experience also includes several years as a counselor in a rehabilitation center, where she witnessed the life-changing impact of recovery firsthand. This inspired her to expand her reach and dedicate her career to addressing addiction on a broader scale as DRS’s Director of Finance.

Deeply humanitarian and family-oriented, Nicole believes in creating meaningful change that extends beyond her work. She is passionate about helping others and is driven by the vision of building a better future for her daughters and granddaughters, one rooted in empathy, education, and the belief that every person deserves the chance to heal and thrive.

Michael Leach is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant who has worked in addiction treatment for nearly a decade. Before joining DRS, he served as Director of Rehabilitation at New Life Retreat in Louisiana and trained under board-certified Internal Medicine physician Dr. Rohit Adi. His background includes working directly with patients through detox and withdrawal, supporting families, and managing treatment programs with an emphasis on safety and quality care.

Having overcome addiction himself, Michael brings rare insight and empathy to his work. He understands the challenges of recovery from both sides, as a former patient and as a professional. This dual perspective allows him to bridge the gap between those seeking help and the clinicians who provide it. Today, Michael uses his clinical expertise and leadership experience to strengthen DRS’s educational content.

Nickolaus Hayes has spent over 15 years researching and writing about substance use disorders, combining professional insight with lived experience. A former addict himself, Nickolaus turned his recovery into purpose, dedicating his career to helping individuals and families better understand addiction, treatment options, and recovery pathways.

He began his career at the same rehab center where he received treatment, working as an intake counselor and helping families navigate the often-confusing treatment process. In 2006, he joined DRS as one of the organization’s original editorial team members, where his writing continues to educate thousands seeking trustworthy, compassionate guidance.

Dr. Rohit S. Adi is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician with more than three decades of clinical experience. Originally from Baroda, India, he earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Baroda and completed his residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He has since served in hospitals across Pennsylvania and Louisiana, including Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, where he continues to practice.

Seeing the harm caused by drugs and alcohol in emergency medicine inspired Dr. Adi to co-found Narconon New Life Retreat in Louisiana, where he serves as Medical Director. His approach combines clinical precision with compassion, focusing on holistic, long-term recovery. Beyond his work in the U.S., he supports efforts to expand emergency health services to remote regions of India, reflecting a lifelong commitment to healing and humanitarian care.

Marie Garceau has been part of DRS since its early days, driven by a lifelong passion for helping others. Over the years, she has played a key role in the growth of the company and has witnessed firsthand how accessible information and compassion can change lives. Her dedication and leadership have helped DRS grow from a small team into a trusted voice in the addiction recovery field.

Known for her organization, precision, and problem-solving mindset, Marie thrives on improving systems and finding innovative ways to serve the community. She’s passionate about staying ahead of technological change and ensuring DRS continues to evolve to meet people’s needs. When she’s not working, Marie enjoys painting, building projects, walking, and spending time with her daughter, Elora: her greatest inspiration.

Karine Gemme joined DRS in 2017 as Website Quality Manager, where her strong attention to detail and ability to quickly learn new systems help ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency across all online resources. Her commitment to maintaining high standards supports DRS’s goal of providing trustworthy information to those seeking help.

Claudia Gemme joined DRS in 2017 and has since advanced to Website Developer, overseeing both the Addicted.org and SUPE (Substance Use Prevention Education) websites. Combining her technical expertise with creativity, she has contributed to the SUPE curriculum through animation and video editing. Passionate about innovation, Claudia uses technology as a tool to inspire awareness, education, and positive change.

Jody Boulay is the Community Outreach Coordinator for DRS, bringing over a decade of experience as a counselor helping individuals and families find practical, compassionate solutions to life’s challenges. Her background in one-on-one counseling gives her a deep understanding of the personal struggles behind addiction and recovery and fuels her ongoing commitment to prevention and awareness.

As a mother, Jody is passionate about raising awareness of how drugs and alcohol affect mental and physical health. She leads outreach initiatives across communities, empowering people with real information about substance use and its risks. Her mission is clear, to help prevent addiction before it starts and give the next generation the knowledge to make informed, life-saving choices. Jody’s work and writing have been featured in numerous publications, including The Daily Courier, Sun Journal, The Gazette, and HeraldNet.

Since 2017, Vicky Gemme has served as Public Relations Coordinator for DRS, dedicated to promoting awareness and building community connections. Guided by her belief in creating a better world through service, Vicky volunteers much of her free time to support local initiatives and continues to strengthen DRS’s outreach and educational efforts.

Robert Newman is an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Prevention Specialist, and Certified Intervention Professional with the IC&RC. His deep commitment to helping others comes from personal experience, overcoming his own struggles with addiction that began in his teens and led to years of hardship before finding lasting recovery. After completing a successful long-term rehabilitation program, Robert dedicated his life to education and prevention, teaching hundreds of thousands of people across multiple states about the dangers of substance use and helping countless individuals find treatment. His firsthand experience, professional training, and compassionate approach make him a powerful advocate for recovery and prevention.

Sheila Sanchez is the founder and operator of Connecticut Bail Bonds Group, where she brings over 15 years of experience helping individuals regain freedom and access the support they need. As the first bondsman in Connecticut to earn certification from the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy, Sheila bridges the gap between the bail industry and addiction recovery, advocating for compassion and reform within the criminal justice system. Fluent in English and Spanish, she leads a team that understands firsthand how empathy and proper guidance can change lives. Through her work, Sheila continues to promote second chances and provide hope to those seeking a path toward sobriety and stability.