Drew and Gracie Pedersen
“Addiction runs in the Pedersen family, but so does recovery now,” said Drew.
Drew’s battle with alcohol began at age 12 in the 1960s, escalating through decades of struggle with cocaine. After achieving 14 years of sobriety, he relapsed when Gracie’s older sister began using heroin. “Fifteen years of on and off drinking followed,” he said.
For Gracie, while awareness of addiction’s devastation came early, that knowledge did not prevent her own descent into alcoholism by age 22. The turning point arrived when her father initiated an impromptu intervention.
“A good friend sold me on rehab, made it sound like a vacation,” she said. “As soon as I ended up in rehab, I took accountability and took control over my own life.”
White Horse Recovery became their bridge to healing. Drew initially volunteered in 2018, as he wanted to “check the place out to make sure it was okay to bring [his oldest] daughter here.” When Drew brought Gracie to Whitehorse in 2022, staff member Kelsey Wentworth connected Gracie with New Hampshire Detox Center, which began her journey through treatment at Bonfire Recovery Services and then sober living at The Freeman House, both in Dover, NH.
“When I was in treatment, I had a dream to work in treatment,” said Gracie, who landed her first recovery job at Bonfire Behavioral Health’s residential facility in spring of 2023.
For Gracie, her focus is on empowerment. “I love helping people who don’t typically feel seen,” she said.
Drew finds purpose in crisis intervention: “I like helping people,” he said. “When things get a little crazy around here, I like that a bit, as long as it ends well.”
Their collaboration extends beyond White Horse’s walls through prevention work at Kingswood Youth Center, where Gracie engages in conversations with young people every other week. “I’ve brought people in to tell their story to the kids—I’m spreading awareness,” she explained.
The strength of both their recoveries faced its ultimate test when Gracie’s mother spent 10 weeks in a coma on a ventilator during COVID-19 restrictions. “It pushed both of us to our personal limits,” Drew said.
Though Gracie initially relapsed during the crisis, the experience ultimately reinforced their commitment to recovery and each other. For Gracie, who recently gained custody of her stepdaughter Ainsley, her focus is clear. “My goal is to be the best mom possible for my daughter,” she said.
For Drew, his goal is equally singular in its focus. “Keep breathing for as long as possible,” he said.
Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.