From Doubt to Understanding - What I Learned at the Braeburn Rise 4 Recovery Summit

I’ll be honest… I’ve always had mixed feelings about pharmaceutical companies.

While I want to believe many are doing good for some, I’ve also seen the harm that can happen when profit takes priority over people. I’ve watched multiple family members become addicted to prescription pain pills, and as someone in long-term recovery from an opioid use disorder, this conversation will always hit close to home.

In December, I’ll celebrate 12 years since I last touched an opiate substance without a medical reason. Twelve years of choosing my recovery, again and again. But even after all this time, my perspective is still shaped by both lived experience and loss.

Because our family has been directly impacted over and over again.

We lost our son to fentanyl poisoning after he took what he thought was a safe Percocet. Both of my younger cousins passed similarly. The prescription pill epidemic in America is heartbreaking. And these are the parts of my story I rarely share on stage because I still can’t say them without many tears to follow.

Last year, I was invited to attend the Braeburn Rx Rise 4 Recovery Summit, but it landed on Aidyn’s first birthday, and I decided not to go. Instead, I connected them with other advocates doing powerful work in this space and watched from afar as the event made a real impact.

One of their speakers, Kody Green, even went on to join us at our RISE 12 anniversary event, bringing his story of recovery and resilience to our stage.

So when I was invited back this year, not just to attend, but to share my expertise on storytelling from a local, lived-experience lens, it felt like a full-circle moment.

For me, this work has always been personal. It’s not just what I do… it’s who I am. And to be seen and respected for that, especially in spaces where lived experience hasn’t always been valued, meant more than I can say.

“Storytelling saved me. Speaking it out loud, again and again, is what’s helped me heal.” - Nadine

At the summit, I found myself surrounded by people who get it. People who’ve seen both the heartbreak and the hope that come with this work. And in one of those raw, unexpected moments as I was sharing from stage, I broke down and cried.

But instead of feeling embarrassed or exposed, I felt safe. The audience… my peers, advocates, and professionals in this field created the kind of space I’ve always wanted to create for others: one where truth can exist without shame. Where vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s strength.

The Braeburn team embodied that same energy… professional, kind, and deeply people-centered. From the planning process to the event itself, every detail reflected care and authenticity. (And as someone who’s been planning events for more than a decade, I can tell you that’s rare.)

It reminded me that not every system is broken. Some are trying to rebuild better with empathy, accountability, and a genuine desire to do right by the people they serve. One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou is “When you know better, you do better.”

Maybe that’s the lesson I needed to learn:

That skepticism can coexist with hope.

That we can challenge systems and still celebrate progress.

That healing happens when we meet one another with compassion, not assumptions.

I’m grateful. For the people I’ve met, the spaces that hold us, and the reminder that even when this work feels heavy, we’re not doing it alone.

Because when we lead with understanding, empathy, and truth. We all heal a little more… together.

*Braeburn paid for my travel expenses to be at the Rise 4 Recovery Summit, but all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

If this resonated with you, I’d love for you to subscribe. I’ll be sharing more reflections on healing, recovery, and the power of storytelling — one honest piece at a time.- Nadine