Dr. Stephen Loyd is both a physician and a patient, but he is so much more. While he was in his residency, Dr. Loyd struggled with mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. He also struggled with alcohol and opiates, and is an addict who has spent years not only in recovery but also helping others battling addiction.
His personal story cuts deep, but is incredibly impactful. Dr. Loyd is a firm believer in the necessary interplay between community and a successful recovery ecosystem. And he touts his own family and supporters for playing such a critical role in his own recovery.
Dr. Loyd believes wholeheartedly that sharing his story is not only part of his own recovery, but also a part of the recovery of others. His own experience inspired him to move into addiction treatment as well as policy work. Among his various public-facing roles, Dr. Loyd presently is the medical director of a large addiction treatment facility in Nashville and he also works at an inner-city rehabilitation facility that serves indigent women.
He also serves as Chair of the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council, a 15-member board that was established to oversee the disbursement of hundreds of millions of dollars in coming years to programs designed to improve the lives of Tennessee residents working to overcome substance use disorder. As Dr. Loyd explains, the work he is doing today will not only benefit those who are struggling with addiction today – but rather, he is building a sustainable recovery ecosystem that will last for generations to come. According to Dr. Loyd, when it comes to addiction recovery, the right way is by doing “whatever it takes.”
