Each September, communities across the nation come together to celebrate National Recovery Month, a time to recognize the strength, resilience, and hope of individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use.

This year’s theme, Recovery is REAL: Restoring Every Aspect of Life, reminds us that recovery is more than overcoming present challenges—it’s about building a lifetime of health, home, community, and purpose.

In this blog, we highlight Tampa Bay’s Inclusive Recovery Communities initiative, share local Recovery Month events, provide resources to support recovery, and invite you to participate in Healing Through Art: Share Your Story, Change the Stigma, our innovative PhotoVoice project.

Tampa Bay Leads the Way with Inclusive Recovery Communities

We are proud to be at the forefront of a growing international movement—developing the first tri-county Inclusive Recovery Communities (IRC) model in the United States.

  • Pasco and Hillsborough Counties have officially proclaimed themselves IRCs.

  • Pinellas County is in active discussions to follow.

An Inclusive Recovery Community is a city, county, or neighborhood that creates safe, welcoming spaces where people in recovery are celebrated and fully included in community life. These communities prioritize:

  • Leadership from people with lived experience

  • Public events that make recovery visible

  • Cross-sector partnerships across health, justice, education, employers, and local organizations

  • Recovery-friendly language, policies, and practices

  • Ongoing evaluation using tools like CHIME (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment)

At its heart, an IRC says: Recovery is real. Recovery is visible. Recovery belongs everywhere.

With partners like Alliance for Healthy Communities, Live Tampa Bay, The Hope Shot, Hillsborough Recovery Coalition, BayCare, and more, Tampa Bay is building a community where recovery is visible, valued, and fully supported.

Recovery Month Events in Tampa Bay

Join us for these inspiring events happening across our tri-county region:

  • Recovery Month Roundtable
    📍 Children’s Board, Tampa | 📅 Sept. 15

  • Recovery Awareness + The Rays
    📍 Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg | 📅 Sept. 17

  • Celebrating Recovery Month Event
    📍 St. Petersburg College Epicenter, Pinellas County | 📅 Sept. 19

  • Stronger Together Recovery Walk
    📍 Sims Park, New Port Richey | 📅 Sept. 20

These events highlight recovery as a community-wide journey, celebrate personal and collective achievements, and create opportunities to connect with others.

Healing Through Art: Share Your Story, Change the Stigma

Are you in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD)? Or a family member, provider, or community ally affected by the opioid crisis in St. Petersburg? We invite you to participate in Healing Through Art, a PhotoVoice project that uses photography and storytelling to challenge stigma and celebrate recovery.

What Is Healing Through Art?

This initiative, led by Drug Free America Foundation, STAR Labs, and Dr. Kosyluk, gives participants the tools to share their stories creatively. Through photography and personal narratives, participants become advocates for change—shifting perceptions, building empathy, and inspiring the community.

Two tracks are available:

  • Recovery Journeys: For individuals in recovery from OUD, focusing on personal experiences and transformative treatment milestones.

  • Community Perspectives: For family members, service providers, and allies, highlighting the importance of support and the realities of stigma.

What to Expect

  • Guided workshops on photography and storytelling

  • Support to capture your story

  • Collaboration with peers and community members

  • Community exhibits and public events

  • Panel discussions to raise awareness

All participants receive stipends and transportation support, and no prior photography experience is needed.

Who Should Join?

  • Residents of St. Petersburg

  • Individuals in recovery from OUD, or

  • Family members, service providers, or community advocates

  • Those ready to inspire hope, challenge stigma, and educate the community

➡️ Sign Up or Learn More

Download Flyers:

How You Can Help & Recovery Resources

You can play a role in supporting recovery in Tampa Bay. Here’s how:

Engage & Spread Awareness

Learn & Share Resources

Support Recovery in Tampa Bay

Together, we are building a Tampa Bay where recovery is visible, valued, and fully supported. Consider making a gift to help expand inclusive recovery initiatives and community events.

Donate Now →