Rewriting the Story of Recovery: A Personal Reflection from GOALS House at UNGA
For most of my career, I've been the person behind the scenes.
I've helped prepare speakers, craft messages, coordinate events, and elevate the voices of advocates, families, researchers, and people with lived experience. My role has often been to make sure others feel informed, confident, and ready when they step in front of the microphone.
So, when I found myself on stage at GOALS House during the 2026 United Nations General Assembly, representing Shatterproof in a conversation titled "Union County: Rewriting the Story of Recovery," I experienced something entirely new.
And surprisingly, it felt right.
Alongside actor and mental health advocate Will Poulter and moderator Alex Holmes OBE, I explored a topic that has defined my professional journey and touched my personal life: how addiction and recovery are portrayed in film and media.
The conversation centered on Union County, a powerful film directed by Adam Meeks anddistributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories, that challenges many assumptions audiences bring to stories about substance use disorder. After viewing scenes from the film, we discussed what changes when storytelling shifts away from tragedy and stereotypes and instead focuses on treatment, dignity, community, and hope.
For decades, addiction has often been depicted through a narrow lens. Stories frequently end at rock bottom, reinforce stigma, or leave audiences believing recovery is rare or impossible. Yet every day at Shatterproof, we hear a different story. We meet individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and communities who prove recovery happens, treatment works, and people can rebuild their lives.
That's why representation matters.
The stories we tell shape public opinion, influence policy, affect whether someone seeks help, and determine how society views people living with substance use disorder. When recovery is visible, hope becomes visible.
As I sat on stage, I realized how comfortable I felt discussing these issues. This conversation sits at the intersection of my personal and professional life. As someone in long-term recovery, I know the importance of seeing stories that reflect dignity, hope, and the possibility of change. And through my work at Shatterproof, I have spent years helping elevate those stories. Together, those experiences have reinforced my belief that the way we portray addiction and recovery matters, because storytelling has the power to reduce stigma and inspire people to seek help.
Seeing how engaged the audience was made the experience even more meaningful. The discussion wasn't just about a film. It was about culture. It was about reducing stigma. It was about creating space for more honest conversations about addiction and recovery.
And for me, it was also about growth.
Stepping out from behind the scenes and into a public-facing role reminded me that advocacy takes many forms. Sometimes it's writing the talking points. Sometimes it's coordinating the event. And sometimes it's sharing your voice and trusting your own experience.
I left GOALS House grateful for the opportunity to represent Shatterproof, discuss a topic I care deeply about and reflect on my fifteen years of sobriety. I was also grateful to be a part of a movement that continues to push for more accurate, compassionate portrayals of addiction and recovery.
Most of all, I'm still reflecting on what it meant to be part of a conversation focused not on what addiction takes away, but on what recovery makes possible.
When we rewrite the story of addiction, we help more people imagine a different ending.
Following its Sundance Film Festival premiere, Union County recently made its streaming debut. The film earned rave reviews, underscoring the hunger for more authentic stories about addiction, recovery, and human resilience.
You can now watch it on: Google Play
We hope you'll watch, share, and join us in helping change the way our culture talks about addiction, treatment, and recovery.