Chris Howe

Chris Howe brings more than 23 years of service as a firefighter in the Niagara region and over a decade of leadership in addiction treatment and mental health. Sober since 2011, he leads from lived experience grounded in structure, accountability, and clear standards of care.

He has co-founded and built three addiction treatment programs that combine evidence-based clinical modalities with a holistic framework to support meaningful change for individuals and families. He has overseen residential substance use disorder programming, developed person-centered treatment initiatives, and maintained a working knowledge of CARF standards to ensure programs meet clear operational and ethical benchmarks. Through this work, he has earned recognition as a respected leader in the addiction recovery field, known for building structured, accountable systems of care rooted in lived experience.

Chris holds professional training and certification in First Responder Addiction and Mental Health. Drawing from both his emergency services career and his own recovery, he developed a first responder-specific treatment track that addresses cumulative trauma exposure, operational stress, identity loss, and stigma within the culture. The program delivers tailored care that reflects the realities first responders face on and off the job.

At Freeport Recovery, Chris provides disciplined leadership and program oversight to uphold consistent standards of care and support long-term recovery outcomes built on responsibility and respect.