How could so many people be harmed in an industry dedicated to healing?
It started with a tip. Eventually, multiple sources said it was an open secret: The founder of New Hampshire’s largest addiction treatment network was sexually harassing or assaulting women – allegations he denies.
How did he get away with it? That question led investigative reporter Lauren Chooljian on a journey into the American addiction treatment industry. She found a longstanding – and long tolerated – culture of sexual misconduct. A phenomenon people in the recovery world call “the 13th step.”
This series is about failures in an industry that is supposed to be dedicated to healing. It’s also about the limits of the #MeToo movement. And journalism. How deep can you dig for the truth before it gets dangerous?
Note: Some of this audio contains explicit language.
Episode 1: The Shadow
What is “the 13th step,” and why does it matter? It all starts with understanding what it’s like to be in the earliest days of recovery. We meet two women who say they were harassed during early recovery. And we meet the man who allegedly harassed them – the founder of New Hampshire’s largest addiction treatment network.
Episode 2: The God of Recovery
As Eric Spofford tells it, he spent his teen years in the throes of addiction and crime. When he got sober, he became a crusader for recovery. We hear how he built his company – and his power. And we hear allegations that he abused that power by sexually assaulting members of his own staff.
Nearly all the music in this podcast was written by Jason Moon. At the top of this episode, we used an excerpt of a track by “grapes” featuring J. Lang and Morusque. It’s called “I dunno.”
Episode 3: Just the Beginning
In March of 2022, Lauren publishes her first story detailing allegations against Eric Spofford. The events of the next several months illustrate the ways powerful, wealthy people can intimidate sources and try to stop journalism from happening. And then, there was the vandalism…
Episode 4: A Wild (Wild?) West
How did 13th stepping become so common in the recovery world and who can hold people accountable? Lauren looks into the history of the addiction treatment industry; goes in search of the people, government agencies, and industry groups that are supposed to oversee it; and does a deep dive into its most pervasive cultural force: AA and the 12 steps. She finds a lot of good intentions, alongside a lot of problems.
Episode 5: The Litter Police
What does it take to catch a predator in the addiction treatment industry? We hear about a case in California where the CEO of a network of treatment facilities was convicted of sexual assault and massive insurance fraud. It required years of work – and two women who banded together and refused to give up.
Episode 6: The Glam Room
Since Lauren began reporting, Eric Spofford sold his New Hampshire company for millions of dollars and filed a defamation lawsuit in response to NHPR’s coverage. We catch you up on everything that’s happened. And we introduce you to a sober living community where addressing women’s sexual trauma is a priority.
Epilogue: Employee A
A conversation with one of the women whose story of sexual assault you heard earlier in this podcast. She talks with Lauren about what it was like to hear her story published, the legal threats she has faced from Eric Spofford and his lawyers, and why she decided to speak out in the first place.
Update: Vandalism Arrests
Federal prosecutors have charged three men for their alleged roles in the vandalism incidents. According to the feds, the vandalism was "solicited" by a "close, personal associate" of Eric Spofford's. Reporter Jason Moon goes to the arraignment at a Boston courthouse and tells Lauren what happened.
Update: A Big Arrest
Federal prosecutors have charged a fourth person in the vandalism case, a man they describe as a “close, personal associate” of Eric Spofford.
Update: A New Bill and A Final Ruling
New Hampshire lawmakers consider a new oversight bill proposed in response to the podcast. And the judge issues his final ruling in Eric Spofford’s defamation lawsuit against NHPR and three of our sources.
From the Editors
Any documentary journalism project is a journey. This one has been an especially epic journey — a trip through unforgiving, unmapped terrain.
The process of making The 13th Step presented the twin challenges of reporting on substance use disorder and sexual misconduct. Each comes with its own sensitivities and nuances. We spent as much time discussing the ethics of the work as we did conducting “shoe leather” reporting.
But that’s as it should be. Journalists carry immense responsibility — not just to get the reporting right, but to honor and protect sources who share painful stories, despite the downsides of doing so.
And there are downsides. NHPR and its sources became the target of legal action because of this reporting. There were also multiple instances of vandalism at the homes of NHPR journalists and their family members. If the goal was to silence the reporting, it failed.
The journey has been worth it. We are proud to bring you this podcast. The 13th Step tells an underreported story that exposes a systemic problem, in a realm that touches the lives of millions of Americans. We hope this series will help make the addiction treatment industry better for all.