Former NFL player Montee Ball speaks on mental health, masculinity and making a difference for communities of color

Heart of the Matter

He was a highly celebrated student athlete with a promising professional career ahead of him. Yet, due to his struggles with addiction, Montee Ball found himself sitting in a jail cell while his former teammates won the Super Bowl. Now in recovery, Montee has walked away from the NFL and committed himself to breaking down barriers that prevent Black and Brown people from accessing help for mental health and substance use disorders.

In this episode of Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas, learn more about Montee’s journey through addiction, how he found purpose in fatherhood, and his work as a recovery advocate for communities of color.

Related reading

After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• How to Address Alcohol & Underage Drinking
• What Parents Need to Know About College Binge Drinking
• How to Encourage Your Child to Get Help for Their Substance Use or Addiction

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
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