Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra York.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

On December 9th, 1982, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Aaron was always a fast learner; he started walking at just 9 months old, and I knew he was going to be a superstar. At the age of 6, the school called to ask if he could be advanced to the talented and gifted class because he was far ahead of his classmates.

In college, while working full-time, he made the Dean’s List. Unfortunately, during this time, he fell from a rope swing and fractured his back, which led to him being prescribed opioids. By 2016, my son, who had been struggling with opioid addiction, reached out to me and said he was ready for help. It was time for a new beginning. Knowing the urgency of the situation, my other son, Joshua, and I called every possible treatment facility in Maine and beyond.

Days passed, and we faced many rejections— “Sorry, we have a waiting list,” or “It will cost $30,000 to secure a bed.” We felt defeated, especially since my son was extremely sick at that point. We then contacted the television show, *Intervention*, and he finally received an interview. However, the process was not easy. When they called back, we were hopeful, but then the news came: “I’m sorry, but we do not feel your son is sick enough.”

Sadly, my son relapsed into opioid use. Realizing many families face similar struggles, my other son and I decided to act. With Josh’s thrift store experience and Goodwill’s model, We aimed to help. I pursued licensing for our non-profit, while Josh collected donations. We donated time and money to make this venture as successful as possible. By mid-2017, we were officially a non-profit. We sought scholarships for those needing treatment but found only out-of-state options. We began placing individuals into detox and rehab programs across the country. By the end of 2018, through grant writing, community donations, thousands of volunteer hours, and in-house donations, we had placed over a hundred people into treatment and had enough money to open our first thrift store.
Fast forward to today, we have four recovery homes, a recovery center, and a thrift store and we have helped many families and individuals find treatment and live a life beyond addiction. An Angel’s Wing’s mission is to ensure each person has every opportunity to live, learn, and recover from substance and alcohol use disorder.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Stigma, funding, lack of available resources and treatment beds

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I do not feel separate from others, but I have always focused on overcoming barriers and obstacles. I believe in prioritizing action over discussion; why waste time talking when you could use that time to get the job done? Over the years, I have worked in customer service in various roles. I sold my auto repair facility to pursue An Angel’s Wing. I hold various licenses and certificates as well as an extensive education in business and human services.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?

I fear that the amount of overdose deaths in this country will no longer be a priority.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anangelswing.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anangelswing/