at first wearing his only suit and tie to every meeting , is a respected board member whose perspective is highly valued by fellow trustees and administrators .
them for weakness and bad decisions that hurt themselves and others . Addicts also feel a sense of shame so deep and destructive that many don ’ t survive .”
As a DBOT representative , Zach recently traveled to San Diego , joining PHSC President Timothy L . Beard , Ph . D ., and college trustees at a national convention . Zach also recently traveled to Munich , where he and local officials studied Germany ’ s economy and dual education system for ideas to incorporate at home . Traveling and interacting with educators in California and officials overseas were opportunities unimaginable to Zach a few short years ago .
Indeed , Zach is not far removed from his decadeslong struggle with debilitating depression and anxiety that surfaced in his early teenage years . “ My panic attacks came on frequently , without warning , and were so severe that I literally thought I was dying ,” Zach said . Desperate for a solution , Zach self-medicated to alleviate his symptoms that instead led to a 12-year battle with substance abuse .
“ Addiction destroys the lives of addicts and their families ,” said Zach , “ It robs people of self-respect , decency and potential . Today , there is a better understanding that drug and alcohol dependency is a disease of mind and body . Still , society is understandably unsympathetic to addicts — blaming
ss nges
Zach takes a few minutes to relax after completing fall 2021 exams .
Professor Eddie Williams , Ed . D ., director of the College ’ s popular social and human services program , has dedicated his career to fighting the stigma associated with addiction , now recognized by the American Medical Association as a mental illness . Honored twice as a NAMI ( National Association of Mental Illness ) Pasco “ Hero of Hope ,” Williams teaches full time at PHSC , serves as the President of the Florida Organization for Human Services and maintains a private therapy practice . He is also pursuing a second doctoral degree in social work , with a concentration in addiction and substance abuse . An advocate for exercise as a path to mental and physical wellness , Williams has worked with hundreds of addicts over the years , including those in prison and recovery centers . “ Addicts often struggle for years to free themselves from substance abuse ,” said Williams . “ There are three common outcomes for addicts : Recovery , incarceration or death : We work toward recovery but incarceration is not the worstcase scenario .”
For Zach , a turning point was a promise to his biological mother after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer . Vowing to live a clean life , he turned himself into authorities on outstanding warrants and was incarcerated for six months . “ Jail provided me with an opportunity to
Associate Professor Eddie Williams , Ed . D ., works to reduce the stigma of addiction and helps people recover from substance abuse .
SPRING 2022 5