Mary Kay Riendeau began to use marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes at only 12 after surviving several instances of sexual violence. Resources were not abundant in the 1970s, and Riendeau’s trauma response dangerously spiraled into substance abuse that lasted 23 years.

Since she set out on the path to recovery in 1999, Riendeau has refused to let the pain of her past define her future. Today, as the department head of addiction studies at Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range, she is helping widen access to addiction counseling services in rural areas across the state.

“You know why people use?” said Riendeau., “The pain of life.”

She says expanding access to addiction counseling will help people get the support they need.

According to a 2024 Minnesota Department of Health report, residen

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