About Our Addiction Treatment
in Massachusetts

Our Philosophy

Few truly understand the challenges of addiction like those who have struggled with it themselves. Lake Ave Recovery’s Worcester facility was established from the combined experience and insight of our founders, Jack Maroney, Dr. James DiReda, Michael Hurley and Shaun Wallace. Worcester natives themselves, they witnessed firsthand the devastating toll substance use had taken on not only their lives, but on the lives on their loved ones. Now, in long-term recovery, they set out to address the needs of their community. A community in need of healing.

Embracing their own individual recovery journeys, Lake Ave Recovery was founded with the goal of providing personalized and compassionate evidence-based care to each person who walks through our doors. Rejecting the idea of “one-size-fits-all”, we understand that addiction looks different in each person and have, therefore, developed a well-rounded individualized program, combining traditional treatment methods with exceptional holistic healing amenities and experiential services. Our founders are deeply immersed in the recovery community, having worked with a number of drug treatment centers in MA, learning and growing along the way.

Publications / News

The East Side of Addiction

Labeled a must-read by both critics and people in recovery, The East Side of Addiction is a bibliographic tale that takes you through the drug addiction that swept through our beloved hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. Lake Ave Recovery’s Dr. James DiReda and Jack Maroney, along with close friend Henry Grosse, paint a gritty and real picture of what growing up in the predominately immigrant working class area, known as the East Side, was like. What started off as using to cope with personal issues of abandonment or wanting to fit in, later turned into a life of crime and danger, all while falling deeper and deeper into addiction. This story of a group of close-knit friends from “The Street” takes the readers on a wild ride fit for a Martin Scorsese film. The East Side of Addiction shares a real story of how drugs brought a community to its knees, and only through the power of friendship, recovery and redemption were they able to overcome their struggles. Truly an example of reclamation and recovery, Dr. James DiReda and Jack Maroney have gone from the depths of addiction to a life dedicated to helping those touched by the disease. The East Side of Addiction speaks to its readers on multiple levels. With the current opioid crisis crippling the country, addiction is not just a part of history. One reader went on to say this about the book: “I believe that if this was required reading in 7th grade the incredible numbers of overdoses might be averted. The writing comes from the hearts of these men who have turned their lives around. The same men have gone on to be powers of example on those very streets. These stories are real and playing themselves out in all our communities…perhaps these pages shed insight into where addiction begins.”

Our Facility

Lake Ave Recovery’s Worcester waterfront location is easily accessible from any point in Central Massachusetts. We are committed to helping people overcome addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions, as one of the best outpatient drug and alcohol rehab centers in Massachusetts. We offer a discrete and one-of-a-kind treatment experience. Our facility offers varying comprehensive levels of care, including Partial Hospitalization/Day Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Treatment and an Outpatient Program.
Our state-of-the-art, calming environment boasts luxurious fireplaces, a café overflowing with complimentary snacks and beverages. Our thoughtfully appointed meeting rooms offer a safe and spacious place to share with a group or meet with a one of our many masters and doctorate level counselors. Our facility also includes a large studio as well as wellness room, where mindfulness services such as yoga, reiki, Tai Chi, Qi-Gong, meditation, massage and acupuncture are provided.
While we take an immense amount of pride in our advanced facility, the thrill truly begins when you step outside of it. Our location along the beautiful Lake Quinsigamond allows us to incorporate a plethora of water activities into our treatment programs, ranging from sailing and kayaking to taking a relaxing ride on our very own pontoon boat. We also utilize the scenic hiking paths that enclose the area as well as the private parks for outdoor strength training.
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We have a longstanding foundation in the treatment and recovery community

Lake Avenue Recovery is a state licensed and Joint Commission accredited organization committed to promoting, maintaining, and restoring the dignity, well-being and mental health for those with substance use disorders and their families serving greater Worcester county and beyond.

  • 132 Years Clinical Excellence
  • 105 Years Recovery Experience
  • 8:1 Ratio Client to Staff
  • 12 Publications on Alcohol and Drug Use
  • 132 Years Clinical Excellence
  • 105 Years Recovery Experience
  • 8:1 Ratio Client to Staff
  • 12 Publications on Alcohol and Drug Use

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