Breaking the Stigma
Mary read two different stories about herself. In one, she struggled alone. In the other, she was managing her condition with support. The difference changed how people saw her, her worth, and whether…
Topic
Policy and Advocacy
Stigma, laws, and the systems we're trying to change — campaigns, leaders, and the policy conversations shaping Maine's recovery landscape.
12 stories
Kennebunk Savings: Shifting Culture, Reducing Stigma
When Brad walks through Kennebunk Savings, he sees employees who've become "lighthouses" for colleagues struggling with substance use. The bank shifted from treating addiction as a performance problem…
Overcoming Stigma: Community Roles in Recovery
Andrew from Massachusetts had one word for what held him back: stigma, stigma, stigma. When communities shift how they talk about and treat people in recovery, they remove invisible walls. This piece…
Breaking the Chains of Self-Stigma, Silencing the Inner Critic
Someone in recovery sits alone, hearing a voice that sounds like their own but feels like everyone else's judgment combined. This is self-stigma, the shame people internalize from others' words. It si…
Removing Stigma From the Employment Equation
Nearly three thousand working-age people were missing from Washington County's employment figures. Economists wondered who they were and where. That question led to something unexpected: a network con…
Faith Organizations: Champions Against Stigma
A pastor stands before her congregation on Sunday morning and names addiction aloud, speaking of it not as moral failure but as illness worthy of compassion. Her church becomes one of hundreds nationw…
Dan Belyea
Dan Belyea is chief workforce development officer for the Maine Community College System. Sober 17 years, he speaks openly about his recovery and pushes for jobs for people in recovery.
Know Your Rights: Good Samaritan Law in Maine
Someone witnesses an overdose and wants to call 911, but fear stops them. What if they have an outstanding warrant? What if their friend does? Maine's expanded Good Samaritan Law removes that barrier,…
Maine Voices of Recovery Issue #22
Becky Peasley has been a nurse in Maine for 25 years. She serves on the board of the Coastal Recovery Community Center, speaks in jails, and pushes for faster access to treatment.
Christine Maider
Christine Maider is a mother of four and a community activist with five years in recovery. She regained custody of her children and now helps other parents work for change in the system.
Christopher Poulos
Christopher Poulos is an attorney and the executive director of the Washington Statewide Reentry Council. He works on prison reform and reentry, and he is part of a mountain rescue team.
Marshall Mercer
Marshall Mercer is in his third year of college and has worked at the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project. He calls himself a student in recovery and helps others find their own path to recovery.