ST. PETERSBURG -- While many celebrated St Patrick’s day around the Tampa Bay are with green beer.
Others packed the Palladium Theater in Downtown St.Pete to celebrate Florida Sen. Darryl Rouson's sobriety.
Saturday morning, he received his 20-year sobriety medallion during a concert benefit.
Rouson represents Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.But many don't know about his past battle with addiction.
During that dark time, Rouson said he would spend thousands of dollars a month on drugs and alcohol, overdosing several times.
On this day 20 years ago, Rouson woke up ready to become sober.
“I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I wanted my respect back. I wanted my standing back in the community as well as my family,” says Rouson. “ I had been doing cocaine, alcohol, tobacco and marijuana for 15 years. It led me through eight different treatment programs in six different states. I just wanted a different way of life.”
While campaigning, Rouson promised voters to fight for issues like substance abuse and mental health.
“I've been able to expand drug courts, been able to look out for mothers with infants on drugs (and) help to fund programs through DCF that allow access to treatment,” he said.
Rouson also went after retail outlets that sold glass pipes in Pinellas County.
That helped lead Gov. Rick Scott to sign House Bill 49 in 2013. The bill prohibited gas stations and convenience stores from selling drug paraphernalia used to smoke crack cocaine.
“I want to help families that are impacted and I want to do that by creating resources, directing resources to treatment as opposed to incarceration,” he said.
Rouson says once he started talking openly about his past addiction, it's been easier to help others going through the same issue.
“I'm not embarrassed anymore. Once you begin to talk about it and shout it, people can't hurt you by whispering,” he says.
The money raised at Saturday’s event will be donated to Mt. Zion Human Services along with other faith-based organizations looking to begin their own programs focused on awareness of drug and alcohol abuse.
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