Maine Recovery Core Shares the Power of Lived Experience at Governor Mills' Opioid Response Summit
Contributed by Maine Recovery Core Director Kristé Sprague
Healthy Acadia's Maine Recovery Core (MRC) was honored to present at Gov. Janet Mills' eighth annual Opioid Response Summit on July 16 in Bangor. This year's theme, "Building Hope, Honoring Progress, Inspiring Change," brought together recovery professionals, health care providers, community organizations, policymakers, and people with lived experience from across Maine to explore solutions to the opioid crisis.
Representing Maine Recovery Core were Director Kristé Sprague, Program Manager Renée Mozeliak, Intern Advisor Bill Buehner, and second-year Recovery Coach Intern George Browning III, who is hosted by Bangor Area Recovery Network (The BARN).
Their presentation, "The Power of Lived Experience: Growing Maine's Recovery Workforce," highlighted how Maine Recovery Core is helping address Maine's behavioral health workforce shortage by creating paid Recovery Coach internship opportunities for people in recovery. The three-year internship program combines professional training, mentorship, supervision, and hands-on experience at recovery organizations across the state, preparing participants for meaningful careers while expanding access to recovery support services in communities where they are needed most.
The presentation also explored the unique value of peer recovery coaching and the important role people with lived experience play in supporting others as they navigate recovery. Recovery Coaches offer encouragement, practical guidance, and hope grounded in their own experiences, helping individuals build confidence and connect with resources that support long-term recovery.
One of the most impactful moments of the session came when George Browning III shared his personal recovery journey. He spoke about his path from substance use disorder to recovery and how becoming a Recovery Coach Intern has given him the opportunity to use his lived experience to help others.
Browning’s experience illustrates the heart of Maine Recovery Core's mission: investing in people with lived experience not only strengthens Maine's recovery workforce but also creates new opportunities for healing, hope, and connection throughout the state.
Programs like Healthy Acadia’s Maine Recovery Core expand access to life-changing recovery support services, strengthen Maine's behavioral health workforce, and create pathways to meaningful employment for people in recovery. Together, these efforts are helping build healthier, more resilient communities across Maine.