PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — There are some things in life that must be done for oneself. Success won't come if it is done for others — addiction is like that. 

To recover from addiction, you have to do it for yourself. Cherrice Peters-Tanksley and Wendy Dillingham know that well. 

What You Need To Know

  • BayCare Peer Recovery Specialists are people in recovery who are trained and certified to help others achieve and maintain recovery from mental health and substance use issues

  • BayCare Behavioral Health offers many services for individuals dealing with addictions

  • BayCare offers substance abuse services for people throughout Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties 

  • If you would like to learn more about BayCare's comprehensive array of services, you can call the registration center to schedule an appointment (877) 850-9613

“We have the gift that keeps on giving,” said Peters-Tanksley, a Mental Health Tech III at BayCare. “We can be firm, yet hold them accountable, yet show care and compassion at the same time.”

For people suffering from addiction, it can often feel like no one understands — no one has walked a mile like yours.

BayCare has created a program where people who are certified and have shown years of sobriety are hired to help people wanting to get out of addiction. 

“This is why we, as peers, are invaluable because we have walked the mile down their shoes. We can relate,” said Peters-Tanksley.

Peters-Tanksley and Dillingham both used to abuse drugs and alcohol. 

“I was always using. I was always drinking. I didn’t even have aspirations of even trying to do anything else,” said Dillingham, who is a Case Manager and Peer Recovery Specialist at BayCare.

Like many addicts, both women started young. 

“It wasn’t abnormal. I used to go pick up drugs with my father and my mother. We used to travel back and forth,” said Peters-Tanksley.

At 7 years old, Peters-Tanksley was drinking. By 11, she had tried heroin and was addicted by 16. 

“I actually had a warrant for my arrest for over a year with four children. Running from the law with four sons for over a year,” said Peters-Tanksley, thinking back. 

Dillingham’s story is different, but the same. She would use, get caught, and then get locked up. 

She has gone to prison more than once. 

“Then I got hard, because I learned from a bunch of other women I was incarcerated with,” said Dillingham. 

Their mugshots show the revolving door of addiction. But then, both had that moment where they couldn’t live that life anymore. They chose to get help. 

“I was ready to give up. I really was ready to give up,” said Peters-Tanksley, wiping tears from her eyes. 

“I am sitting in a booking cell in 2006, and I looked around, and I said, ‘I am not doing this anymore.’ And I am like, ‘Lord, I need your help,’” said Dillingham. 

In her final prison stay, Dillingham attended every Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Narcotics Anonymous meeting and Bible study. Once out, she kept attending those meetings. 

“Everybody wants to be a substance abuse counselor when you get clean right. I am like, ‘I just want to help other people. I want to be a substance abuse counselor.’ So about four years after I had been clean, I went back to school,” said Dillingham. 

She then applied to be part of BayCare’s Peer Specialist Team.

“I knew that I was called to help other people. I just knew that I was still alive, and I was saved,” said Dillingham. 

Four years into Dillingham working for BayCare as a peer specialist, she met Peters-Tanksley. She was trying to beat her addiction.

“Cherrice is, we call her our unicorn. I mean, seriously, I have never had a client to do everything I have ever suggested. Never,” said Dillingham. 

“I met Wendy. And she stayed on me, she stayed on me,” said Peters-Tanksley. “She was like, ‘We will put you in detox.’ I said, ‘Well, when I get out of detox, I don’t have a place to stay.’ She said, ‘We will hook you up with a place to stay.’”

Peer specialists provide resources at every step of recovery. 

Peters-Tanksley was connected to Metropolitan Ministries, which helped her with housing and more. 

She went back to school and eventually applied to be a BayCare Peer Recovery Specialist, too. 

“Surely, who am I not to give back what was so freely given to me?” said Peters-Tanksley.

On top of her BayCare job, she often volunteers at Metropolitan Ministries. 

Dillingham gives her time outside of work, too. She guides a Bible study for those battling addiction at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Hernando County. 

The pair are connected in a way that is stronger than friendship. 

“I love her,” said Dillingham.

“Yeah, I love you too. You are the best,” said Peters-Tanksley.

The BayCare Peer Recovery team is just one of many groups that helps people get out of the addiction cycle. The health system also helps people with crisis stabilization, detox, outpatient and urgent family care.