Georgia Recovers: Humanizing Addiction and Shifting Awareness with Local Shatterproof Partners

As we enter 2026, Shatterproof reflects on the measurable progress made through Georgia Recovers, a 26-month public awareness campaign to transform how substance use disorder (SUD) is understood and treated. In collaboration with more than 80 community organizations, the campaign reached 5.6 million Georgia residents, expanding knowledge, strengthening local voices, and promoting recovery as an attainable path.  

At the heart of Georgia Recovers was the power of personal storytelling, shared by Georgia residents in recovery and those impacted by SUD. These stories helped reduce stigma and increase understanding of SUD by highlighting the realities of recovery in Georgia communities. One storyteller, Keya from Savannah, noted how the process of sharing helped her see her own experience in a new light: "I guess my confidence in my story was not there until I shared it with Georgia Recovers. And then I realized, oh, wow, it is powerful. And I'm grateful that I did share it instead of holding it in." 

The campaign's effectiveness was not just anecdotal. Data showed that those exposed to Georgia Recovers messaging were nearly 2.5 times more likely to know where to find quality treatment for opioid use disorder — proof that education and storytelling can and change lives. 

Guided by data from the Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index (SASI) and input from local partners, Georgia Recovers combined evidence-based strategy with community insight. The campaign mobilized local champions, collected stories from people with lived experiences, hosted webinars and events, and shared content through Georgia Recovers’ social channels, both organically and through paid promotion.  

“Centering community voice is key to the success of initiatives like Georgia Recovers,” said JodyAnn Bogle, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Shatterproof. “Shatterproof remains committed to amplifying people with lived experience as agents of narrative change by fusing evidence-based practices with humanity and compassion.” 

Georgia Recovers engaged residents across the state through digital outreach, live events, and social media content tailored to reflect local experiences. The campaign was shaped with input from people with lived experience and community members, ensuring messages were both accurate and relevant. This approach helped create trust and build lasting connections across the state.  

While Shatterproof’s formal involvement in Georgia Recovers has concluded, the campaign outputs shared during that 2+ year journey will continue to serve as a digital archive of resilience that resonates across audiences, including people in recovery, their loved ones, and public health and public service professionals working to shift the system from within.   

Shatterproof continues to advance similar efforts regionally and nationwide, providing tools and initiatives that humanize people who use substances and are impacted by SUD to drive systemic change across healthcare, policy, and community networks. 

To learn more about our national work and upcoming regional initiatives, visit www.shatterproof.org.   

Thank you to the community members, partners, and volunteers who made Georgia Recovers possible. The results reflect your commitment, and the continuing need for people-centered approaches to transform the conversation around SUD.