Newsletter
Letter from the CEO
In this newsletter, we fully embrace May and turn our attention to the mothers, aunties, and women in our lives. Many of you know that it was not my own recovery or journey through addiction that pulled me into this work; it was my sister’s death that pushed me to...
Our Stories
Mothers in recovery from substance use and mental health challenges demonstrate profound strength and resilience as they work to heal both themselves and their families. With the right support, they can break cycles of trauma and addiction, creating healthier...
As We Grow
New Team Members! We are thrilled to welcome three new staff members to the Live Tampa Bay team and we are excited for you to meet them out in the community. Ashley Neal - Chief Outreach & Operations Officer Ashley is an advocate for behavioral health related...
As We Grow
Torchbearer Award The 2024 Senator Rouson Torchbearer Award was awarded to Tina Miller, for using the light of the torch to brighten the way for countless people in our community — and then using the wood of the torch to build three high schools for teens in...
Letter from the CEO
Just a few short years ago we set out with the bold vision to reduce overdose deaths by 50%, and now through all our hard work, we are finally seeing a reduction. Less overdoses. Less families losing their children. More hope for a world where no lives are lost to...
Our Stories
Representative Michelle Salzman of Florida’s District 1 (Escambia County) shares her Story of Impact as the mother of a person in long-term recovery who was gravely impacted by the opioid epidemic. She also emphasized the importance of speaking up and asking for...
Did You Know
Addictive Leadership: Michael Brody-WaiteIn his keynote at this year's luncheon, Michael Brody-Waite shared his remarkable journey from homeless drug addict to Inc 500 founder, revealing how the principles that saved his life in recovery became the foundation of...
Letter from the CEO
I am honored to invite you to our Live Tampa Bay’s Annual Leaders Luncheon to End Overdose. My team and I are excited for our upcoming signature luncheon -- an event dedicated to networking, sharing critical insights on the overdose epidemic, celebrating recovery...
Did You Know?
We are on our way back down! But how far left do we have to go to get back to normal? After opioid overdoses rose exponentially in the United States for two decades -- 8.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2003 to 32.6 in 2022 – the death rate has finally decreased to 31.3 in...
Letter from the CEO
For the first time in years, we are seeing a reduction in overdose rates – a sign that prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts are making an impact. This progress is encouraging, yet we must remain clear-eyed about the road ahead. Overdose...
Did You Know?
A Conversation With Dr. Micah Johnson Dr. Micah E. Johnson, an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. He specializes in trauma, behavioral health, and community-driven research. You are leading an NIH...
Letter from the CEO
Although Dry January can be traced back to World War II in Finland, the recent trend in the U.S. has really spread widely since the pandemic.1 What is the cause for the recent popularity? What can be gleaned by looking more critically at Dry January? These...
Did You Know?
Is Dry January a Good Idea? Dr. Thomas Stopka, Ph.D., M.H.S., an expert at the Tufts University School of Medicine on substance use disorder and related risks, shares thoughts on the concept’s benefits and drawbacks. Dry January is a somewhat recent trend in which...