THE PEOPLE BEHIND ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES' PROGRAMS

George Nowak, MD

Medical Director

George Nowak, MD, is the medical director of Addiction Recovery Services. Dr. Nowak created Addiction Recovery Services to provide comprehensive and innovative treatment for individuals with substance abuse and mental health disorders.

Dr. Nowak also has a private practice in affiliation with Chestnut Hill Associates in Portsmouth and Dover, NH. Previously, Dr. Nowak was employed at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and was director of the dual diagnosis unit. Dr. Nowak has over 30 years of experience working in the field of addiction medicine and psychiatry.

Dr. Nowak completed his psychiatry residency at Yale University. He is board-certified in both Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry and is the only physician on the Seacoast with such credentials.

John Ludice, LICSW, MLADC

CEO

John has worked for over 20 years with people with substance use and mental health issues in a variety of settings, including inpatient detox programs, residential programs, outpatient, intensive outpatient, and medication-assisted treatment facilities. He has in-depth knowledge of the behavioral healthcare system and various treatment options and settings available to people.

John is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Hampshire Master of Social Work (MSW) program. He has taught courses on the Treatment of Addiction and Assessment of Addiction for the UNH Substance Use Disorder Graduate Certificate Program. He also teaches advanced counseling courses for UNH's MSW program.

John has a particular interest in decreasing the stigma of substance use disorders while improving access to various treatment options for all those impacted. He is the past president of the New Hampshire Provider's Association. He helped to recreate the curriculum for ARS, making it more evidence-based and inclusive. 

Drew Maranhas, CRSW

Certified Recovery Support Worker

Drew is a CRSW (Certified Recovery Support Worker) and a person in long-term recovery. Drew has a passion for working with people living with substance use disorders and mental health challenges and aims to support others through his lived experience and utilizing ongoing guidance from coworkers, mentors, and formal education. Drew started his career at SOS Recovery Community Organization, where he earned his CRSW and worked as an NH Recovery Friendly Workplace coordinator, care coordinator, homeless outreach, and peer support specialist. 

Drew has also worked in community mental health on the Seacoast as a case manager and outreach specialist, where he got valuable experience working with people who have a wide array of needs for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. When outside of work, Drew can usually be found at the beach attempting to surf, playing with his awesome dog, and valuing spending time with his family. Drew believes that recovery involves far more than not using substances and shares the same vision as ARS that recovery is unique for every individual, a lifelong process, and very possible for those who seek it.

Olivia Dupell, CRSW

Alumni Engagement Coordinator

Olivia graduated with a business degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2012. Her passion for addiction recovery guided her to complete the recovery coach academy in January 2016. Olivia helped to set up the Safe Harbor Recovery Center and served as a dedicated volunteer between March and September 2016. She was then hired by Granite Pathways to help implement the Regional Access Point Services contract, where she provided crisis management and treatment referrals to individuals calling the NH Statewide Addiction Crisis Line. During that time, she earned the credentials of Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW). In July 2017, Olivia joined the Seacoast Public Health Network as their Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator, where she deployed a "multiple intervention" approach through collaboration with regional partners and resources to develop and build strong community resiliency to address the effects of substance misuse within the region. Olivia helped launch the Governor's NH Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative in 2018 and continues to serve on their Advisory Board. She recognizes the value of community involvement and support in one's recovery. Olivia is thrilled to be joining the ARS team. She believes in the importance of strengthening one's resilience in order to sustain one's recovery and supports all pathways to recovery.

Ryan Dellapenna

Lead Clinician

Coming soon

Josh Colwell

Chief Marketing Officer

Josh Colwell is a dedicated professional in long-term recovery with five years of experience in the recovery field. His journey began with the AmeriCorps RecoveryCorps program, where he discovered a passion for helping others in recovery. Josh started his career in direct care, serving as the supervisor of a Recovery Community Organization’s criminal justice program. In this role, he worked with individuals involved in the justice system and supported five Recovery Courts and two jails across the state.



Two years ago, Josh transitioned to Business Development, working with a program that offered a full continuum of care. In April 2024, he joined ARS as their Chief Marketing Officer. Beyond his professional roles, Josh is an active member of the recovery community and sits on multiple boards of directors within the state, continuing to contribute his expertise and commitment to advancing recovery services.