TJ Pattea is indigenous to Arizona and is from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation as well as a descendant of the Hopi, Navajo, and Apache people. His lived experience with chaotic substance use and addressing generational trauma has helped him find recovery and motivation to help other people.
TJ is a social worker and a student at Arizona State University, currently working on his undergrad program for his Bachelor of Social Work degree. He has experience working in behavioral health, specifically in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and has knowledge regarding other forms of recovery. TJ has had the opportunity to support individuals who were incarcerated and found the experience to be invaluable. Over the years, he has also donated time to several organizations by volunteering at “Shot in The Dark” and “A New Leaf.” TJ has a strong passion for harm reduction, and after months of volunteering with SPW, he has officially joined the team as a full-time tester.
His hope and vision are to inspire positive change with people experiencing chaotic substance use, advocate for those in need of support, especially for his native people, and help destigmatize people who use drugs. TJ loves his family and his two daughters always keep him busy. He enjoys the outdoors by running and walking with his two dogs. He also likes to read books related to social work, drug use, the drug war, or his native culture.
