San Antonio Teen Finds Purpose After 7 Years Drug-Free

Dalton DeWinne was 11 years old when substances became his way of coping with emotions he didn't understand. By seventh grade, he had his first criminal charge for assault at school.

Today, at 27, DeWinne has been drug-free for seven years. He now works as a youth recovery specialist at Rise Recovery in San Antonio, the same organization that helped him when he was 15.

"I dealt with my emotions with substances from the time I was 11 up until the time I was 20 years old," DeWinne said. His father's death from an overdose became the moment everything changed.

Rise Recovery has served San Antonio youth and families for 50 years. The nonprofit offers barrier-free support programs at no cost, currently helping more than 100 young people and family members each week at its North Central campus.

Broadway Bank recently provided new funding to support these free recovery services as part of the Texas institution's 85th anniversary giving initiative. Harvey P. Hartenstine, CEO of Broadway Bank, said supporting organizations that save lives makes a real difference in the community.

What sets Rise Recovery apart is its whole-family approach. Beth Ochoa, CEO of GDC Marketing & Ideation and a board member, joined after losing family members to addiction and seeing how the organization supports everyone affected, not just the person struggling.

Why This Inspires

After two years on staff, DeWinne gets to witness young people achieve their own success stories. He recently helped several participants apply for colleges, watching them prepare for futures they once couldn't imagine.

DeWinne said he can't point to just one success story because every young person who consistently shows up creates their own. Some get into college, others rebuild family relationships, and many simply learn healthier ways to process difficult emotions.

The work feels personal because DeWinne remembers being the teen who needed someone to believe recovery was possible. Finding purpose through his father's loss transformed his pain into a passion for helping others avoid the same tragedy.

For every young person who walks through Rise Recovery's doors, DeWinne represents living proof that recovery isn't just possible but can lead to a life of meaning and service.