Episode #148: A New Chapter in Recovery Leadership | Ruth Ann RigbyEpisode #148: A New Chapter in Recovery Leadership | Ruth Ann Rigby
Recovery Lab
Ruth Ann Rigby shares her journey from court-ordered treatment to long-term sobriety and new leadership roles in recovery and behavioural health. The conversation also addresses gas-station drugs, Narcan, overdoses on college campuses, and practical ways individuals and communities can access help and support others.
57:40•23 Sept 2026
Service, Surrender and Gas-Station Heroin: Ruth Ann Rigby’s Next Chapter
Episode Overview
- Recovery can start even in court-ordered treatment when someone becomes willing, follows directions, and keeps things simple day by day.
- Human connection and real-life accountability — from old-timers to bank staff — remain crucial, even in a high-tech, AI-driven world.
- Gas-station drugs, kratom and other "legal" substances can still be highly addictive and dangerous; if they change how you feel, take it seriously.
- Narcan offers a brief window in an overdose, not a full solution; emergency services and proper medical care are still essential.
- Education, clear information and accessible community mental health services are key tools to reduce overdoses and support families in crisis.
“"A drug is a drug is a drug, and if it's changing the way you feel, something's wrong with it."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation on Recovery Lab brings back veteran guest Ruth Ann Rigby for a rich mix of war stories, practical advice, and a look at her new chapter in recovery leadership. Ruth Ann shares her long-term sobriety, anchored in a court-ordered treatment stay and a brutally honest counsellor who told her to put her Bible under the bed and "pray for acceptance and surrender".
With characteristic humour, she explains how she once had to "believe in the doorknob" because it was the only thing she could see and touch, showing how broken she was when she first got help. The chat shifts between serious and light-hearted, from AI mishaps and New York subway adventures, to why "my ego is not my amigo" and how old-timers keep her grounded.
She talks about keeping recovery simple: financial wellness by actually knowing her banker, still balancing a chequebook, and asking permission before big purchases as a way to stay accountable. Ruth Ann also outlines her new consultancy, Rigby Consulting, and her fresh role as Chief Strategic Officer at Black Horse Health in Houston, where residential care addresses chronic pain, substance use, mental health, detox and stabilisation.
On the heavier side, the group discusses recent student overdose deaths in Oxford, gas-station “heroin”, kratom, and potent street drugs. Ruth Ann repeats that "education, education, education" is crucial, stressing that Narcan offers only a short lifeline and that people still need emergency care. She highlights community mental health centres, sliding-scale counselling at places like the Centre for Hope and Healing, and the importance of knowing how to access care.
They wrap with Ruth Ann’s work on the First Responders of Mississippi holiday toy drive and awards, reminding everyone that recovery is a gift best honoured by service. It leaves a clear question hanging: are you using your story, however messy, to help someone else stay alive and sober?
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