Gov. DeSantis announces deal to name substance abuse center for Darryl Rouson after all

USF to advance its position as a leader in mental and behavioral health by creating a new research center named for Sen. Darryl Rouson

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the intent to establish the Senator Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research at USF, which will conduct rigorous research that will advance the scientific understanding of the relationship between substance abuse and mental health issues, including improving treatment outcomes and reducing the societal impacts of substance abuse and mental health conditions.

USF substance abuse center to be named after Sen. Darryl Rouson

Tampa Bay Area Democratic state Sen. Darryl Rouson in Tampa on June 25, 2026. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)Tampa Bay area Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson was surprised to learn Wednesday that a substance abuse center located at the University of South Florida (USF) is going to be named for him, after all. The state Senate passed a bill on mental health and substance use disorders this year that included a provision naming the center after…

Gov. DeSantis announces deal to name substance abuse center for Darryl Rouson after all

After drama late in Session appeared to leave the plan dead, Gov. Ron DeSantis says a drug treatment research center will be named for Sen. Darryl Rouson after all. The Republican Governor revealed that the Senate and the University of South Florida reached a deal to honor the Democratic lawmaker, who has shared his own story of addiction publicly throughout his political career. Rouson told that personal tale again as he stressed the importance…