Leon's 21 Months Sober After Near-Fatal Overdose

When Leon Wodzinski's friend found him collapsed on his apartment floor after a drug-related seizure, neither imagined he'd soon be standing at the National Concert Hall sharing his recovery story with nearly 100 people.

The Dublin resident received his recovery medallion last Sunday at the Rutland Centre's annual ceremony during Recovery Month. Leon, originally from Poland, has now been sober for 21 months after years of addiction to morphine, crystal methamphetamine, and GBH.

His journey to recovery wasn't straightforward. After moving to Ireland at age eight following childhood abuse, Leon developed an addiction that eventually led to prolonged psychosis and psychiatric hospitalization in 2024.

The seizure that left him unconscious became his turning point. He secured a place at the Rutland Centre in Knocklyon, though he didn't even unpack his bag at first because he doubted he'd stay.

Through structured treatment, group therapy, and clinical support, Leon began understanding what drove his addiction. He learned healthier coping strategies and started rebuilding his life one day at a time.

"When I first walked into The Rutland, I wasn't thinking about a medallion or what my life could look like in recovery," Leon told the audience. "I was just trying to survive."

Even after completing treatment, Leon returned every Friday for aftercare sessions, even on difficult days. That commitment paid off.

Why This Inspires

Leon's transformation represents something bigger than one person's recovery. At a time when addiction treatment demand continues rising, his story proves that evidence-based support works.

The Health Research Board recorded 24,220 drug and alcohol treatment episodes in 2025, while the Rutland Centre reported that nearly two-thirds of its clients struggled with multiple addictions. Yet despite increasingly complex cases, 98 percent of residential clients completed treatment.

The Centre recently expanded beyond Dublin for the first time, opening an intensive outpatient program in Athlone to serve people across Ireland's Midlands and West. More people can now access the same life-changing support that helped Leon.

Chief Executive Maebh Mullany emphasized that addiction often hides beneath a functioning exterior. "Someone may appear to be functioning while privately experiencing enormous distress," she explained.

The medallion ceremony honored recipients marking milestones from one year to several decades of recovery. Each medallion also recognized the families, friends, and professionals who walked alongside them.

For Leon, his medallion represents every single day he chose recovery and the people who believed in him when he struggled to believe in himself.