Leaving it all on the shore

In the cold waters of San Francisco Bay, some swimmers in addiction recovery find community and a way forward

Evan Auchard, left, prepares for a club swim at Aquatic Park Cove in San Francisco on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Auchard is among Bay Area open-water swimmers who have found that the physical challenge, discomfort and community of cold-water swimming can play a meaningful role in addiction recovery. (Katie Hulse/Bay City News)

By Katie Hulse • Bay City News

September 29, 2026

ED VALADEZ BEGAN DRINKING at age 13, before most kids have lost all their baby teeth. It was the beginning of a lifelong addiction until three years ago when he plunged into the numbing waters of the San Francisco Bay. He has been sober ever since.

“When people immerse themselves in very cold water, that leads to a gradual increase in the production of feel-good neurotransmitters, like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine,” said Dr. Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist at the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic.

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A recent UC Berkeley graduate in English literature and political economy, Katie is interested in environmental reporting, local politics, arts and culture, and the ways public policy shapes communities. After writing for The Daily Californian, producing news coverage at KALX Radio, and reporting on climate and sustainability issues for EARTHDAY.ORG, she is eager to continue building her reporting experience.