Samantha O

Struggling with addiction

Samantha, a born and raised Lebanon County native spent over ten years struggling with the disease of addiction. Samantha is now a person in long-term recovery. Samantha entered what she hopes will be her last inpatient treatment on December 21, 2011. Through a decade of drug addiction, failed treatment attempts, dropping out of college, and ultimately surviving life support and open-heart surgery – Samantha became willing to enter treatment after an encounter with a North Cornwall Township police officer.

You can go to treatment and not jail

Samantha credits this police officer with starting her ripple effect of change, when he told her “Merry Christmas – you can go to treatment and not jail.” With a three-month daughter at home in the care of her parents, Samantha began her recovery journey that has provided her with a life beyond her wildest dreams.

A life beyond her wildest dreams

Samantha holds a Bachelor's Degree from Elizabethtown University with a major in Criminal Justice. She went on to complete her Graduate Degree from Saint Joseph’s University in 2018 with a major in Criminal Justice and an emphasis on Behavior Management and is a Certified Recovery Specialist. Samantha aspires to continue to be an advocate in the recovery community – reinforcing that treatment works, and recovery is possible. By being honest and open about our journey – we provide hope and love so that others may find the peace and joy of sustained recovery by any means necessary. Samantha is a Senior Territory Outreach Manager for Promises Behavioral Health – providing access to both Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatment. She is also an adjunct professor at Lebanon Valley College and Berks Technical Institute as she has a love for teaching and continued education. Samantha provides training with the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Coalition in partnership with the Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association, a part-time employee with Empower the Mind LLC and is the head chair of the Lebanon County Heroin Task Force Stronger Together Harm Reduction Pillar. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys consignment shopping, being with her husband, two children and beloved cats – and watching The Office – no matter how many times she has seen it.