About NCADD NWFL

Leo Donnelly is the founder and Executive Director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Northwest Florida. He founded this organization because he has a deeply personal interest in trying to make a difference in the lives of people impacted by the disease of alcoholism and drug dependency. His passion for making a difference is fueled by both his childhood family and his adult family being destroyed by alcoholism and drug dependence. His parents both suffered from alcoholism and drug dependence. Their dependency negatively affected Leo, his brother, and three sisters. They learned things like:

Don’t trust, and you won’t be disappointed.
Don’t feel, and you won’t be vulnerable.
Don’t talk, and never ask outsiders for help.

Leo ran away from that home and joined the Navy, where he picked up alcohol not knowing he had the same disease. His alcoholism destroyed his own family of wife and four children. After 20 years of repeating behaviors he hated in his parents’ addiction, his loss of dignity and values to alcohol drove him to sobriety.

In the 25+ years he has been sober he has buried his mother, father, and one of his sons as a direct result of their disease of chemical dependency. He has struggled in relationships because of the effects of chemical dependency.

In 1999 Leo was interviewed for an article for Addiction magazine, during the heyday of the “Adult Child of an Alcoholic” movement. The following is that interview: “Leo’s story sounds well rehearsed, as if he has told it many times before. Occasionally, a tone of surprise and anger creeps in. Maybe it’s despair for the wasted time and wasted lives.” Yes, he has told that story many times, and he continues to be surprised that there are times when he can still feel the anger and grief over those wasted lives.

Leo started his recovery path in 1980 and had been working in the addiction field for a number of years when his son, Michael, died from an overdose of alcohol and cocaine. He was facilitating a weekend workshop when notified of his death. He will never forget the anguish sitting in the funeral home with Michael, thinking, “Why him? Why not me…” followed by, “I have got to do more, do something to make a difference.” That time only strengthened his resolve to do all he could to change the future and try to prevent the disease of chemical dependency from destroying families. Chemical dependency is a treatable medical disease and it is absolutely not necessary for it to wreak the havoc on lives that it does.

Years later a friend who knew of his passion for helping those suffering from addiction, both individuals and families, approached him and asked if he would like some money to help others. That was the start of his dream and the founding of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Northwest Florida – an organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people impacted by the disease.

We offer education, information, help and hope. We do that by being a resource for those who call seeking help.
Research shows that education is the best prevention; so NCADD of NWFL offers education to individuals and the public concerning alcoholism and drug addiction.
We offer free screening services with referrals.
We provide intervention services; an intervention is a kind and caring way for families and friends to ask a person active in the disease to get help.
We have a family program as well as an out-patient program for those affected by chemical dependency.

Simply stated, NCADD of NWFL offers help, hope, and healing for thousands of individuals and families struggling with alcoholism and addiction. Leo’s dream – his vision – is to see this organization continue and grow in its mission of help and hope.

Initially, as a one person organization trying to provide services for Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties, he responded to approximately 700 to 1,000 calls per year for assistance through just a few people knowing about the organization. The ripple effect of those who have been helped telling others who need help to “Call Leo” creates a demand that cannot be met without help.

In Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties, the population numbered 607,000 in 2004. Many years of research supports data that an average of one person out of ten suffers from the disease of chemical dependency, and that one person has a negative effect on a minimum of six others. At a minimum 70% of the population is affected in a negative way by chemical dependency. This represents approximately 485,000 in the three county area affected in a negative way by a disease that is treatable! There is an enormous gap between 1,000 calls versus a possibility of 485,000!

“Call Leo” is just not enough any more. The three locations must be fully staffed in the three counties in order to meet the demand of continuing to provide the opportunity for change, and to let individuals and their families know they do have a choice. Individuals and families can speak up and be heard, and helped. The driving force behind this organization is to be there, offering the hope and help that is needed and deserved.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”