Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Addiction & Overdose Awareness Speaker
Opioid use is at an all-time high, with abuse running rampant across the country. Communities are overrun with dangerous drugs like oxycodone and fentanyl, both of which can quickly lead to addiction and put people at risk of an overdose. Being aware of the problem is necessary, as is understanding how addiction occurs and what options are available for those in its grip.
This is where Tony Hoffman comes in. As an addiction recovery speaker, he brings his expertise and understanding of what someone with a substance use disorder battles with and uses them to offer guidance for communities and individuals. Learn more about what Tony Hoffman offers as a community speaker for drug rehab.
Fentanyl Epidemic Speaker: Understanding the Dangers of the Opioid Epidemic
Opioids, also called narcotics, are drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS). These days, the synthetic opioid fentanyl is the most powerful one available — it can be 100 times more powerful than morphine.
Although originally created to treat severe pain, it quickly has become the drug of choice for people with opioid use disorders because of how powerful it is. As little as 2 mg of fentanyl, which is the equivalent of just a few grains of salt, can be life-threatening for young adults and people who have never used opioids before.
The brain quickly adapts to fentanyl, leading people to use more of it to achieve the same high that they once had. This puts them at risk of taking more than their bodies can handle.
Another worrying aspect of fentanyl addiction is that many dealers mix the drug with other substances, making it impossible to know what’s in it. Additionally, the potency can vary so much that overdosing on fentanyl is common.
Because fentanyl, like other opioids, affects the areas of your brain that also control breathing, an overdose is usually fatal if there’s no help on hand.
Across the country, spikes in overdose deaths because of opioids and mainly because of fentanyl have affected the most vulnerable communities. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that synthetic opioids like fentanyl have led to drug overdose deaths, with a nearly 7.5-fold increase from previous years.
Tony Hoffman knows the toll an opioid addiction can take on the mind, body, and spirit. He has decided to dedicate his time as a drug overdose awareness speaker because of the lives he has seen destroyed by drugs like OxyContin and fentanyl. At one point, those lives included his own.
Tony Hoffman Knows Drug Addiction: An Overdose Awareness Speaker Who Cares
Tony Hoffman served a two-year sentence for drug-related robbery, but that was only the conclusion of years of struggling with mental health concerns like depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation, all of which led him to abuse substances like OxyContin.
He experienced homelessness and found it impossible to get through these challenges on his own. Only when he set his mind and spirit to getting sober was he able to begin the life he was always meant to lead.
His experience with addiction makes him an excellent opioid speaker because he knows exactly what it’s like to put your life at risk for a pill or a bit of powder. He knows what it feels like to touch absolute despair as a result of addiction.
He has also spent most of his last 14 years traveling across the country and speaking with people who have also been directly affected by the opioid epidemic. This is another reason he’s the kind of opioid epidemic speaker you can trust to share the truth about the problem & solutions. He has seen its impact and understands the people who are most affected and what the United States infrastructure needs to improve recovery outcomes.
One of the things that makes Tony Hoffman stand out as an opioid overdose speaker is that he breaks down the stigma associated with drug abuse & magnificently connects mental health to substance use. Most people have an idea of what a “drug addict” looks like, but he takes that idea and turns it on its head.
Anyone can suffer from a substance use disorder, and removing the stigma and shame associated with substance abuse is an important first step communities can take to help those at risk.
When you choose Tony Hoffman as a drug overdose awareness speaker, you are getting help from someone who has been at the forefront of the epidemic and made a complete recovery.
“I would travel the country to see you speak again. I attend conferences (a lot) and have never been so moved and impacted by a keynote speaker. As a public defender I don’t always get to hear the depths of people’s journeys – thank you so much for your courage and willingness to share. Your talk alone made the conference worth it. I will be sharing the webcast with my judges, prosecutors, and community partners as soon as I get back! ”
— Amanda Riek – Wisconsin State Public Defender
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Speaker: Finding Help
Tony Hoffman runs his own rehabilitation center called pH Wellness, which helps people who are battling substance use disorders. Not only has he been through the process of getting sober himself, but he has seen countless others going through it, too.
As a drug treatment guest speaker, he focuses on finding the strength necessary to take that first step and ask for help. It’s never an easy thing to do, but it’s the only way to break away from the power that drugs and alcohol have on your life.
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders often co-occur, making it crucial to treat both conditions at the same time so that they don’t feed into one another. As a drug rehabilitation speaker, Tony Hoffman encourages people to dive into finding the root cause of their addiction, confronting any mood disorders, high stress levels, or anything else that may be impacting them and leading them to misuse substances.
At pH Wellness, Tony Hoffman sees the way that substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life, and he knows that addiction can upend how you think of yourself and loved ones, which is why turning to a rehabilitation program is vital.
He recommends residential treatment programs because they allow you to immerse yourself in a healing atmosphere. Many people turn to substances to manage the stresses in their lives, so stepping away from your life for a time allows you to get some perspective and focus on the journey ahead of you.
As a drug rehab speaker, Tony Hoffman brings the empathy that comes from shared lived experiences. He helps motivate his audience with his honesty in speaking about difficult subjects as well as with the path he’s taken in his life — from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to achieving his dream of going to the Olympics.
He has been a drug rehabilitation guest speaker around the country, and he can help your community, too.
Community Speaker for Drug Addiction
As a community speaker for drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, Tony Hoffman strives to bring facts and honest conversation to each event he participates in. Getting sober isn’t easy, but it can be made a bit simpler if the person with the substance use disorder is surrounded by a community that understands what the problem is and what it takes to get help.
By providing education and focusing on awareness, Tony Hoffman is an ideal speaker for a drug and alcohol coalition. He brings expertise on the opioid crisis affecting the country as well as on overdose risks and what to watch for. He is able to outline the signs of someone who is battling an addiction and explain what those nearest to them can do to help.
As a speaker for drug coalitions, Tony Hoffman is dedicated to removing the stigma that drug and alcohol addiction have, allowing the truth about these conditions to make its way through a community.
He has seen first-hand what addiction can do to you and the people who love you and also how important turning to a rehabilitation center is when you decide to get sober.
The goal of any community should be to have a safe and drug-free environment in which even its most vulnerable citizens can thrive. That all stems from understanding the problem and taking empathetic actions — not punishing those who are suffering. Fostering unity and compassion is crucial for any community struggling with addiction.
Tony Hoffman speaks honestly about the harsh realities of addiction, offering his experiences as well as those of loved ones who lost their lives to this disease. In his role as a speaker for alcohol coalitions, he helps ensure that people understand addiction is not about a lack of willpower or laziness. It’s a disease, like any other, and because it’s chronic and relapsing, someone with an addiction will always battle it. This requires empathy and care.
For your next speaker for drug awareness conferences or coalition meetings, choose Tony Hoffman to receive information presented with care, honesty, and compassion.
“Tony lights up the room with the energy of truth, hope and humor. He gives new meaning to the phrases “spellbinding” and “riveting.” Story telling is an ancient art with the power to heal, clearly Tony Hoffman is an old soul living in a young spirits heart.
Our clients ranged from drug court clients to medical students. All of their questions were welcomed by Tony Hoffman and their response was cheering applause. ”— Sall Reames – CEO – Community Healing Centers (Southwest Michigan)
Book Tony Hoffman for Your Next Drug/Alcohol Awareness Event
Tony Hoffman is ready to speak about the dangers of the opioid epidemic and how at-risk communities have suffered because of a lack of awareness and lack of resources. Whether you need him to speak at a coalition, rehab center, or any community event, he is ready to bring his expertise and compassion to those in need.
Helping others is such a crucial part of recovery and building a strong community, and that is what Tony does every day. He shows you how you can help one another through addiction, mental health challenges, and so much more.
Contact Tony Hoffman to book him as a drug and alcohol rehab guest speaker for your next event.