FULTON – Virginia Bough, executive director of Friends of Recovery of Oswego County (FOROC), the county’s only non-clinical support agency for those experiencing substance use disorder, has announced that Ryan Parker has joined the staff as a peer advocate.
Parker is a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate (CRPA) and is currently enrolled in Jefferson Community College and will acquire an Associate Degree in Human Services in 2026. He is trained in Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), motivational interviewing, and harm reduction.
As a CRPA, Parker brings with him fifteen years of lived experience and has served as a facilitator for both Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous groups and SMART, a self-management recovery program designed for all avenues of addiction such as substances, gambling, food, and others.
“I’m excited about being a part of Friends of Recovery of Oswego County,” said Parker. “It’s a welcoming, safe space where those in recovery can receive the support, education and resources they need to assist them in their recovery. The programs we offer are designed to welcome everybody and discourage labels commonly used to describe people who use substances and the stigma associated with those terms. People are so much more than that.”
Parker, who himself experienced the downside of substance use disorder, fully realizes the importance of the services that Friends of Recovery of Oswego County provides through its Recovery Community Outreach Center.
“I can relate to the challenge of reaching sobriety and finding a pathway to recovery,” said Parker. “My family gave me the support and encouragement I needed. I want to offer that kind of support to other people. My goal is to not only help them reach sobriety but guide them through their recovery and address the core reason for substance use disorder. Everyone’s recovery is different. I will be sharing with them what worked for me and hopefully they will benefit from that as we find a pathway to recovery that will work best for them.”
One of the most notable differences between FOROC and treatment centers is that it honors all pathways to recovery including harm reduction, medication, and abstinence among others.
“We want to impress upon people that when they are ready, there are options,” said Parker. “They can succeed past their downfalls and rebuild their lives. I’m an example of that. I went through it and I want to ensure that others do not have to. I often hear people say ‘I wish I could go back and change everything’. Well, you have a chance to do that. Every day is a new day. You may be stuck in the mud, but it’s better than quicksand…you can turn things around if you choose to do so. My goal is to assist those that I work with to achieve contentment in life, not complacency. Complacency can be a deterrent to recovery.”
When people have nothing to do, mischief tends to follow. People spend so much time maintaining their addiction. When they are in recovery, the question is, what will they do with their time? Boredom can be problematic. The activities and programs we offer at the FOROC Community Outreach Center help to fill that need and provide a safe, non-judgmental place to do so,” added Parker.
“I’m pleased to welcome Ryan to our staff,” said Bough. “Ryan’s lived experience, and his ability to openly talk about it, is refreshing. Recovery is a lifelong journey focusing on personal growth and well-being. It involves support groups, community and self-help strategies. Recovery emphasizes sobriety and continuous self-improvement. It is ongoing and is shaped by individual experience. Our consumers relate to Ryan’s lived experience and feel comfortable talking with him. Additionally, his training provides him with a science-based background that complements his lived experience.”
Located at 808 West Broadway, Suite #3, Friends of Recovery of Oswego County’s Recovery Community Outreach Center is a safe space that addresses the needs of people that are impacted by opioids or substance use disorder in a non-clinical, non-judgmental way. Since its inception in June of 2025 FOROC’s Recovery Community Outreach Center has welcomed over 400 unique visitors and averages approximately 300 visits each month. Staff provides individuals with education, support, and empowerment so that they may improve their health and wellness and to live their best self-directed lives with dignity, autonomy, and support.
For more information on Friends of Recovery of Oswego County services visit their website at www.forosweocounty.org or call 315-297-4300.
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