Tony Hoffman’s substance abuse journey from incarceration to coaching BMX professionally at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics to founding PH Wellness, a world-class rehabilitation center in Southern California, has enabled Hoffman to use his story of struggle to empower communities worldwide, including the Deerfield community.
When asked about his preparation for his presentations, Hoffman said in an interview to the Scroll, “If I speak from a place from which we are all the same, then I am using things we can all relate to to try and take home the message that I want to bring. So, I have felt that telling stories is the most effective way to do that so long as the stories have a personal appliance to them.”
Hoffman used the “ice cube analogy” for when an ice cube falls onto the floor and the easy choice is to kick it under the fridge rather than throw it in the sink as a connection to change. Hoffman believes, allows individuals to understand that, “[no] matter who you are, where you are from, what you’ve been through, how you feel about yourself, change is possible and…change can be something amazing for not only yourself but others.”
When asked about the steps he took to create change in his own life and overcome drug addiction, Hoffman shared, “If I could see that brushing my teeth was no different than doing my homework or showing up to a job on time, over time I would start to feel something different about myself or what was being presented to me.” He continued, “When these bigger things came to me, the confidence to execute small things showed up and gave me enough confidence to do the big things.”
Responding to Hoffman’s talk, Ashley LaBrucherie ’23 shared, “To me, his message was particularly resonant, as my mother’s side of the family actually all went to the same high school as Tony Hoffman, and I have lost a cousin to an overdose. She continued, “Being in the Deerfield bubble removes me from the hardships present in a lot of what we refer to as ‘the real world,’ and hearing Hoffman’s story reminded me to be more aware of the harsh realities pertaining to addiction, mental health, and substance that are prevalent in all facets of life today.”
Discussing the challenges youth face in regards to substance abuse, Hoffman highlighted the heightened risk social media plays in increasing our anxiety, describing how platforms such as Instagram increase dopamine responses in the brain when we “overengage.”
In order to effectively support youth and adolescents’ mental health, Hoffman emphasized the need for schools to “normalize safe spaces” in order to create “a culture of vulnerability” which actively addresses the “evolving needs of students.” When asked about ways in which Deerfield supports students’ mental health, Lily Pierce ’25 shared, “I think Deerfield provides great resources for students, but I still think the idea of mental health and having mental health issues is a very stigmatized one.”
LaBrucherie agreed, saying, “I think Deerfield should educate kids on the harm of substances and their health risks…[while working] to bridge the gap between the extensive mental health resources on campus, and students who neglect them out of fear surrounding confidentiality.”
Director of Counseling Jennifer Daily further discussed potential improvements, adding, “I think an area of growth might be for us to add more programming on mental wellness, things like emotional intelligence and resiliency skills, the essential skills for life that maybe you wouldn’t seek individual counseling for, but would certainly make your experience of life better.”
Counselor Daily also emphasized the immense care Deerfield adults have for students in the community: “I want each student to know that we really do care about each one of you. And we care about you no matter the grades you get, the goals you score, the size of your role in the play, the college you get in to. We care about you, because of the human being you are. Not the results you generate. I know our motto is Be Worthy. You are all already worthy of everything that matters. We are so glad you are here, and we appreciate the human being you are. If you ever doubt it, read this again. Come talk to us in the Chen. We care about you, and we are here for you.”
In addition to Campus Security (413-772-9880), the Health Center (413-774-1600), and the National Suicide Help Line (988), Hoffman’s two websites (https:// www.tonyhoffmanspeaking.com; https://www.phwellness.com) and Hoffman’s Instagram DMs are readily available resources you can use if you have any questions or are struggling with mental health.