Why Recovery Narratives Matter

At Caz, we know that recovery isn’t just about being substance free. Recovery is also about rebuilding your life and charting a new course. The path to recovery is filled with obstacles, restarts, and small victories that deserve to be celebrated. That’s why our Stories of Recovery series matter so deeply. These stories highlight the strengths and uncover the struggles of those in treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). These individuals have faced down stigma, hardship, and loss; and are now carving out lives filled with aspiration and purpose. These stories are real-life proof that recovery works.

Caz Recovery Narratives

Every time we share a Caz Story of Recovery, we challenge the common narratives around substance use disorder. Take Liz, whose story “Unbroken: Liz’s Fight for a Better Tomorrow“ paints a picture of perseverance. She came to Caz carrying the weight of trauma, abuse, and homelessness. Yet, from the moment she walked in the door, Liz was determined not to let her past define her future. “I want my kids to see that I didn’t give up,” she said. That fierce love fueled her recovery, and with every milestone – securing stable housing, reconnecting with family, participating in peer groups – she has moved closer to the life she always knew she deserved.

Then there’s Lucy, whose recovery journey was quieter but no less powerful. After years of living in fear and uncertainty, she found peace at Caz through consistent structure in a safe community. At first, she was shy and withdrawn, but slowly, through daily routines and affirming relationships, she began to trust again. “I finally feel safe in my own body,” she told us. That sense of emotional safety is a critical yet often overlooked element of recovery.

Connections and Peer Support: Caz’s Stories of Recovery are a powerful form of peer support. When people with SUD hear from others who have walked similar paths, it fosters connection, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. Research backs this up as, according to SAMHSA, peer support significantly increases treatment retention and engagement.¹ A 2025 systematic review published in Current Addiction Reports found that peer-led recovery services, including storytelling and coaching, can significantly improve treatment engagement and show strong potential for reducing recurrence of use and supporting long-term recovery.² By opening up about their experiences, our residents aren’t just healing themselves, they are helping others heal.

The Peer Impact: Real People, Real Progress

“Helping others gave me back a piece of myself,”

Every day we see the impact of connection and shared experience. Michael’s story, Discovering Hope and Finding Faith, is a great example. He had cycled through treatment programs before, but it wasn’t until he began connecting with others in our peer recovery community that things truly started to change. He rediscovered his love of music, began performing again, and eventually took on a mentoring role teaching music workshops to fellow residents. In supporting others, he found strength within.

Aaron lost everything to addiction, his job, his home, his family, and his sense of self. After nearly a decade of homelessness, a pivotal moment led him to choose recovery. At Caz’s Unity House, he found a chance to rebuild, one step at a time. With vocational support and encouragement from peers, Aaron has re-entered the workforce and found renewed purpose. Aaron is now certified as a peer specialist and working in crisis support, and for him, “It’s not a job, it’s a calling.” His journey is proof that even from the hardest places, a new life is possible.

Empowering People to Pursue Recovery

At Caz, our mission, to empower people to pursue recovery from substance use disorders, build healthier lives, and reach their full potential, is grounded in the outcomes of our people, their voices, and their stories. When we share recovery narratives like these, we are honoring the complexity in rehabilitation and the people who live with SUD. These narratives show what’s possible when recovery is combined with compassion, resources, and the unwavering belief that everyone has the capacity to change.

Read more of Caz’s Stories of Recovery! www.cazenoviarecovery.org/stories.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2023). Peer Support and Social Inclusion. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/brss_tacs/peer-support-social-inclusion-2023.pdf ↩︎
2. Eddie, D., O’Connor, J.B., George, S.S., et al. (2025). Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review. Current Addiction Reports, 12, Article 40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-025-00645-8 ↩︎