TAMPA, Fla. — Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is looking for veterans to help fellow veterans recover from substance abuse. 

The Peer Support Outreach Call Center is staffed by trained veterans who know about recovery firsthand. 

Rayford Dennis is living proof that recovery works.

“When I came to the VA, I was homeless,” he said. “I was living on the streets and I was hopeless, so this recovery means everything to me. I didn’t think it was possible.”

Thanks to the peer program, Dennis is helping veterans in similar situations. Through this mentoring program, vets like Dennis serve as role models for fellow veterans in recovery by sharing their personal recovery stories and helping them with ways to cope.

“They were looking for someone who was currently in recovery, that had a good grasp or hold of their recovery, that can help other veterans,” Dennis said.

According to veteranaddiction.org, among the veterans who visit a VA facility for the first time with substance use disorder, more than 80% abuse alcohol, nearly 27% abuse illegal drugs and about 7% abuse both.

Dennis became a peer supporter back in 2011. Today, the navy veteran has helped hundreds of others through their recovery. Veteran Sharette Lanotingram-Patterson says she couldn’t be more grateful.

“It’s like what you said when that light bulb went off. You know what I’m saying? About dealing with my husband and the five strokes and everything. You really helped,” she said to Dennis.

Dennis said he is happy he can help others as his profession.

“I’m glad they didn’t take me too seriously that I probably would do this for free, but I probably really would have. I’m glad that I can do it as a job. When you love what your work is, it’s not like work,” he said.