The 黑料网吃瓜爆料Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the creation of the Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research, which will be dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of the complex relationship between substance abuse and mental health. As part of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, the center will lead research aimed at improving treatment outcomes and reducing the broader societal impacts of these conditions.
The center is named in honor of Sen. Darryl E. Rouson, whose decades of advocacy and personal journey have made him a powerful voice for behavioral health in Florida.
Sen. Rouson speaks at the 黑料网吃瓜爆料Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 9, 2025. [Photo: Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
鈥淲hat excites me most is not the honor itself, but the work that will happen here because of your commitment,鈥� said Sen. Rouson, who shared that he recently celebrated 27 years in recovery. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the students who will be trained, the research that will be done, the innovations that will shape public policy, and the lives that will be saved. This will be a place where ideas will be tested, where best practices are developed, and where the next generation of leaders will be prepared to tackle one of the most defining challenges of our time 鈥� mental health and addictions.鈥�
Over nearly 20 years in the Florida Legislature, Rouson has been a driving force in shaping behavioral health policy. He currently serves as the Florida Senate鈥檚 appointee to the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, where he continues to champion expanded resources and support for individuals and families.
In 2024, Sen. Rouson co-sponsored Senate Bill 330, landmark legislation designed to address the state鈥檚 shortage of mental health professionals. That legislation led to the creation of the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce at 黑料网吃瓜爆料and supported the establishment of the TGH Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital in partnership with USF.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the intent to establish the Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research during a June event where he signed Senate Bill 1620, sponsored by Rouson, which implements several key recommendations to strengthen mental health care across the state.