Real recovery stories breaking addiction stigma
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If addiction were only about the substance, everyone exposed to the same drug would have the same outcome. We know that’s not how it works. One famous series of experiments, often called “Rat Park”, offers a surprisingly human lesson: our environment and our sense of belonging can dramatically shape how we relate to substances.
By February, most “new year, new you” resolutions are already fading into the background. If you’re living in or supporting recovery, that can feel discouraging—like one more reminder that change is hard. At Live Tampa Bay, we see it differently. Real growth, especially in recovery, tends to come from small, sustainable acts of self‑respect, not from trying to reinvent yourself overnight. This month, we’re inviting you to think about self‑care as “falling in love with yourself”—in a grounded, everyday way.
Loneliness, Overdose, and Why Connection MattersWe talk a lot about substances when we talk about overdose. What we talk about less is how often loneliness and isolation sit in the background of those stories. When someone feels cut off—from family, from community,...
This February, I’ve been thinking a lot about how loneliness, overdose, and stigma show up in real lives here in Tampa Bay, and what it would look like for all of us to respond with more compassion, not more pressure. In my letter, I share why connection and person‑first language matter so much, how Black communities are carrying a disproportionate share of this crisis, and three simple ways we can care for ourselves more kindly while helping someone else feel less alone.
Inside This Year’s Behavioral Health and Public Safety SummitOur 4th Annual Behavioral Health & Public Safety Summit brought together leaders, providers, first responders, advocates, and community partners who are shaping a safer, more recovery-ready Tampa...
Meet Cesar Rodriguez, a man whose life took a dramatic turn when he found understanding and support, not judgment, from those sworn to protect. Cesar recounts the difficult time he was struggling with substance use disorder, only to be met with compassion and...
Transforming Justice Through Mental Health ReformAcross the United States, jails have unintentionally become the largest mental-health institutions—housing thousands of individuals who are not criminals, but rather people living with untreated mental illness. In...
As we close the chapter on 2025, I reflect with deep gratitude on the progress we have made together and the collective impact of our shared commitment to a healthier, safer, and more compassionate Tampa Bay. This year has been defined by collaboration, innovation,...
Help Shape Florida's Behavioral Health WorkforceLast month’s webinar, Strengthening Florida’s Behavioral Health Workforce, highlighted a major statewide effort led by the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce at USF. The initiative, created through SB 330...
Each month brings new proof that recovery isn’t just an idea—it’s something we build together. It takes a network of people who care deeply, who show up, and who turn compassion into action. More and more, we’re seeing how peers—the people who have walked the path...
We are looking for an energetic outreach professional to join our team as a Community Liaison for Pasco and Pinellas counties. This community liaison role will work primarily in a remote capacity, but travel to Pasco & Pinellas counties is also...
Our spotlight story this month shines on the courage it takes to live with honesty—the kind that transforms recovery into leadership. Michael shares the importance of channeling lived experience into service. As part of the Live Tampa Bay Peer Recovery Specialist...
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