From Rock Bottom to Rising Strong: Luke Loughlin’s Story of Recovery, Resilience, and Renewal

A PHAMbassador Spotlight🔦

At PHAM (Preventative Health Awareness Movement), we believe that self-leadership, community, and courage are at the core of healing. Few individuals embody this more powerfully than Luke Loughlin, a PHAMbassador whose authenticity, heart, and mission continue to move and inspire.

Luke’s journey through trauma, addiction, and recovery is not one he hides — it’s one he shares boldly in hopes of lighting the way for others. As he says, he’s working every day to “turn his mess into a message.” And that message is rippling through communities and igniting change.

📽️ Watch Luke’s Story — a raw and personal look into his journey of pain, hope, and purpose:
➡️ Luke Laughlin’s Story (Video)

Luke was a powerful voice in our recent “Real Lives Touched by Addiction” event during PHAM Month 2025— a courageous community conversation where PHAMbassadors gathered to stomp the stigma and show that healing is not just possible, but transformative.

It was a pleasure to recap that special PHAM event and continue this important conversation on my podcast/TV show, PHAMCAST with Luke and three other PHAMBASSADORS, Jen McCutcheon, Lainne Love, Sandra Murray and Christine Squires. They share Luke's passion for changing the narrative around mental health and addiction. Their individual stories are powerful and their collective voice is crucial to share if we want to change the future when it comes to real lives touched by addiction.

🎙️ Listen to these powerful conversations in this special episode of PHAMcast featuring Luke and other courageous leaders in this space.

➡️ First segment of PHAMCAST featuring Luke and Jen McCutcheon (Enable No More)

➡️ Second segment of PHAMCAST featuring Lianne Love & Sandra Murray (Spirit to Live)

➡️ Third segment of PHAMCAST featuring Christine Squires (Write Actions) & Luke

Wearing his truth on his sleeve — quite literally in a shirt that reads “Vulnerability is Strength” — Luke shows us what bravery really looks like. He has chosen to lean in, do the inner work, and build something new from what was once broken.

Luke Loughlin is now also a Peer Support Worker at Alternative Youth, where he draws from his lived experience to connect with and support young people facing mental health, addiction, and life challenges. Having walked the road of recovery himself, Luke offers empathy, guidance, and hope to youth navigating difficult paths. His work focuses on building trust, fostering resilience, and helping young people realize their potential through non-judgmental support and meaningful connection

Recovery Painting, his social enterprise that offers high-quality painting services while creating opportunities for others navigating life after addiction. His vision? That every wall — like every person — can be restored.

“Every brushstroke represents transformation — in homes, businesses, and within ourselves.”
— Recovery Painting Mission Statement

But Luke’s impact doesn’t stop there. He is also the founder of The Inside Job Project — a movement that powerfully illustrates that true change begins within.

Through The Inside Job Project, Luke reminds us that recovery isn’t about external validation or quick fixes. It’s about doing the work within — confronting pain, embracing growth, and choosing to lead with love, one day at a time.

It connects deeply with the idea that true recovery comes from doing the work to heal the hurt that brought one to a substance. The lighthouse in this logo resonates deeply with Luke. "Certain people in my life have acted or act as a beacon of hope or light, guiding him through the darkness. Despite having their own struggles and past wounds these individuals did their own
"inside job" work of healing and have become lighthouses - sources of light showing me that recovery IS possible.

The 'Inside Job Project' focuses on the idea that addition ( such as with alcohol, drugs & other addictions) is not just about the substance itself, but in fact, it is about the internal struggles and trauma people face. Luke knows firsthand the importance of facing his fears, anger, trauma and resentment that has led to low esteem, self-worth and feeling of shame. To achieve true recovery and sobriety, Luke believes that one must not neglect but rather address and heal those internal issues. It is essential to recovery

At PHAM, we are honoured to walk beside Luke. His story — ongoing and courageous — is the embodiment of what we stand for:
💛 Self-leadership. Self-love. Community.

Luke, your message is saving lives. And your strength, your honesty, and your heart continue to inspire us all.

🌟 Join the Movement. Share the Message. Stomp the Stigma.
Learn more about PHAM and how you can support voices like Luke’s at our PHAM HUB: