Our founders, Wesley Culpepper and Philip Land, both successfully navigated their own journeys through substance use disorder.
A key factor in their sustained recovery was the positive, supportive environments they found in various treatment and sober living programs, as well as the deep, meaningful relationships they forged with other people in recovery. These experiences, built on mutual understanding, accountability, and hope, inspired them to create a different kind of support system. They are now committed to bringing that same transformative environment and experience to Columbus to help people in their hometown that are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD).
But they also experienced something else: recovery. And they believed that if healing was possible for them, it should be possible for anyone, especially those in their own backyard.
That belief became the foundation for River City Recovery.
Along their journey, they recognized a vital opportunity to deepen the support network within the Columbus area. Their goal is to bring enhanced resources, raised awareness, robust clinical services, and a thriving sober community to the region. Rather than standing apart, they aim to work alongside existing local services as a unified team. By adding to the foundation already built, they hope to expand the continuum of care and ensure that individuals in Columbus and the surrounding areas have the comprehensive support they deserve.
Their vision led them to partner with experienced clinicians, operational advisors, and healthcare consultants who could help turn a grassroots idea into a legitimate, licensed treatment program rooted in clinical excellence and authentic care. What emerged was a partnership between lived experience and professional expertise, and that dynamic continues to guide our culture today.
Wesley and Philip both call Columbus, GA home. They’ve lived the reality of trying to get sober in a region where treatment options are limited and stigma remains high. Columbus, in particular, had a clear need.
Inspired by the pivotal support they received in their treatment stays, they wanted to bring that same life-changing opportunity to Columbus. They want to serve as a first point of contact for anyone battling substance misuse, or families feeling lost in the process, and help answer the overwhelming question of ‘what comes next?’ They are committed to helping people navigate their specific needs, ensuring every person finds the right support system, finding the best possible fit for recovery, be it at River City Recovery or through another trusted local partner.
River City Recovery was created to fill that gap: to serve the people of Columbus and the surrounding communities with a flexible, effective outpatient model that could meet individuals where they are and walk with them toward something better.
We’re proud to be locally owned, locally operated, and locally focused. We know this city. We know its people. And we know what’s at stake.
There’s no substitute for lived experience. It brings urgency, empathy, and perspective that can’t be taught in a classroom. At River City Recovery, that perspective is woven into the fabric of everything we do.
From the first phone call to your last day in programming, you’ll be working with a team that understands the highs, lows, and in-betweens of recovery. Many of our staff members have been through treatment themselves. They know what it feels like to walk through the door for the first time. They know what relapse feels like. They know what accountability looks like. And they know how powerful it is when someone refuses to give up on you.
We didn’t build River City Recovery to scale fast or sell out. We built it to serve people, to provide a different kind of outpatient experience, one that is both clinically sound and deeply human. This is our community. These are our people. And this is our life’s work.
