Newsletter
What the “Rat Park” Experiment Can Teach Us About Addiction and Belonging
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.
Falling in Love With Yourself: A Different Kind of February Self‑Care
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 Matters
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,...
Letter from the CEO
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.
As We Grow
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...
Our Stories: Into the Light
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...
Did You Know?
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...
Letter from the CEO
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,...
Did You Know?
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...
Letter from the CEO
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...
As We Grow
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 Stories: Into the Light
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...
Did You Know
2025–2026 Legislative Review and Outlook This month’s legislative webinar recapped the 2025 session and previewed priorities for 2026. Lawmakers advanced dozens of bills affecting behavioral health, criminal justice, and general health and education. While...
Our Stories – Into the Light
Spotlight: Senator Darryl RousonThis month, Into the Light focuses on the intersection of recovery and legislation, as well as the leaders who bridge those worlds. Senator Darryl Rouson has been a driving force in advancing policies that expand access to treatment,...
As We Grow
WELCOME, STEPHEN PASQUALE!We are excited to welcome Stephen Pasquale to Live Tampa Bay. Stephen joins us with a strong background in nonprofit service, community engagement, and substance use recovery. He most recently served as the Mental Health & Substance...