Lived Experience & Earned Resilience: The Overlap Between Prevention and Recovery
For a few weeks, I hit pause on the podcast—not because I needed a break, but because I had the incredible opportunity to attend and speak at the 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs at the United Nations. I shared the stage with my friend and colleague Shane Varcoe from the Dalgarno Institute, and together, we explored a powerful truth:
Recovery and prevention are not separate journeys—they’re part of the same human story.
That session inspired this blog and my latest podcast episode, where I unpack the often-overlooked overlap between prevention and recovery and challenge the narratives that too often shape our systems, policies, and self-perception.
Whose Stories Get Told?
Let’s talk about the double standard.
If you’re a cancer survivor, people lean in to listen.
If you’ve overcome domestic violence, you’re honored for your strength.
If you’re an ex-smoker, your testimony fuels public health campaigns.
But if your story includes addiction recovery?
Too often, it gets labeled as “scare tactics” or “too risky to share.”
That’s not just wrong—it’s dangerous. Because the truth is, people in recovery are among the most powerful prevention educators we have. They bring not just cautionary tales, but wisdom, resilience, and hope.
Watch the episode here:
What the Science Actually Says
Thanks to research from organizations like The Well Communities and insights from the Dalgarno Institute, we now have hard data that backs what many of us know intuitively:
Peer-based support increases abstinence rates by 20–60% over clinical models
Community connection triggers healthy dopamine responses in the brain
Recovery stories reduce stigma, increase engagement, and foster hope
Integrating recovery voices into prevention programs improves outcomes—and saves money
In other words, recovery isn’t a detour from prevention—it’s a rocket fuel for it.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
This episode isn’t just about public narratives—it’s also about the quiet stories we tell ourselves.
As someone with my own history of substance use, trauma, and healing, I used to believe that strength meant control. That vulnerability was weakness. That needing help meant I’d failed.
But recovery taught me that resilience isn’t about pretending everything’s fine—it’s about facing what’s hard and choosing growth anyway. It’s about building a life you don’t want to escape from.
And honestly, prevention is about that, too.
The Overlap Is Real
Whether you’re working in prevention or walking through recovery, the core principles are the same:
Identity & Purpose: Who do I want to be?
Emotional Regulation: How do I handle stress?
Growth Mindset: Am I learning from setbacks?
Support Systems: Who’s in my corner?
Integrity: Do my choices match my values?
The best prevention programs and the strongest recovery journeys are both about helping people become their best selves, not just avoid their worst moments.
Let’s Reframe Prevention
Prevention isn't just about saying “no” to drugs. It's about saying “yes” to something better.
It’s about creating a life so fulfilling, so aligned with who you are, that substances lose their appeal altogether.
As I often say:
You don’t just prevent something—you create something better.
Your Next Step
If this message resonated with you, I invite you to:
🎧 Listen to the full episode: Lived Experience & Earned Resilience
🔁 Share this post with someone in prevention or recovery who needs a reminder of their power and purpose
Let’s stop pretending prevention and recovery live in separate worlds. The truth is, when we bridge them, we build something stronger—together.
