Damain Teat shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Damain, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I met a participant about four years ago. He stated ” I cannot keep using and I need some help”. I had connected him to treatment about six times. During this time his mother kept coming by and asking for me to please help. I shard my experience with her and my mother that all we can do is pray. Which is vey hard for a loving mother. However after some time she let go. One day this gentleman came to me and stated that he was finally ready and not to tell his mother he is going. He went to a six month treatment program and was introduced to a 12 step program. His mother kept reaching out and I let her know I could not discuss anything with her. About a year later I was invited to his graduation from a second program and now had a year in recovery. He was now working in the recovery field and was working on getting his own place. We now talk daily and he is doing very well in his recovery process. He called his mother and she was so proud of him.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Damain Teat, and I’m a registered peer supervisor and certified peer recovery specialist at Paul’s Place Inc. in Pigtown, a community resource center in Baltimore, Maryland. As someone with lived experience of homelessness and substance use, I engage with participants, providing one-on-one support and resources. I connect people to treatment immediately, eliminating wait times. I also conduct outreach three days a week with my partner, Nurse Megan Doede, from the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I believe that it was my mother. Going through a lot growing up in and out of incarceration she always believed I would do better. Even when I was actively using drugs she was always letting me know that she knew I would stop one day. I have tried numerous things to stop using and also have tried many different work environments to no avail. after some time in recovery my mother would always tell me how proud of me she was. She would call on me to be the one to help her all the time. On May 17, 2025 my mother passed away and I found no reason to go back out and use. Yet very grateful to have been with her for her last moment.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When I was about 30 I tried to take my life because I felt that I would be in and out of incarceration my whole life. I felt worthless and that I would not ever break the cycle.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
100% I don’t live to far from my job and see my participants even when I am not at work. I do my best to continue to support them even off of work. I remember when I was in that same position and just wanted someone to talk to. I have a 3 year old daughter and would like her to see that there is something in the support I provide. I also have a 21 year old that I was absent for as a father and now that we are starting to work on our relationship I continue to strive to be myself.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I honestly don’t think anything. I lead a very fulfilling life. I have a weekend job so maybe let that go to spend more time with my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paulsplaceoutreach.org
Image Credits
Chevonne Francois, Maya Brown, Jessica Thompson, Amirah Teat
