197: Recovering Professor On His Journey From Homeless to PhD With Dr. Alexander Elswick

Dr. Alexander Elswick grew up with privilege and seemingly all the protective factors that might keep him out of the way of addiction. It was then that anxiety disorders began showing up for him. He began getting in trouble in college. He was prescribed opiates and quickly became addicted. He went to jail on drug trafficking charges and was kicked off his college baseball team. What followed was a cycle of arrests, homelessness and treatments. He was shocked the way he was treated in homelessness. Nothing had prepared him for that painful experience, but it was eventually a part of his finally getting sober. Today, Dr. Elswick serves the University of Kentucky as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. He is a trained researcher, recovery coach, and mental health therapist, as well as the co-founder of Voices of Hope, a peer-driven recovery community organization, and the co-founder of the University of Kentucky Collegiate Recovery Community, a supportive infrastructure for students in recovery. Tune in to Learn About: From Privilege to Addiction: A Journey of Unexpected Struggles Explore how Dr. Alexander Elswick's privileged upbringing didn't shield him from the challenges of addiction and anxiety disorders. Discover the surprising turn of events that led him from a seemingly stable life to grappling with addiction and legal troubles. Navigating Rock Bottom: Homelessness, Arrests, and Recovery Dive into the cycle of arrests, homelessness, and treatment that Dr. Elswick found himself trapped in. Gain insights into the shocking realities of homelessness and how it served as a turning point in his path to recovery. Transforming Pain into Purpose: From Addict to Advocate Learn how Dr. Elswick's personal struggles fueled his transformation into a trained researcher, recovery coach, and mental health therapist. Building Resilience and Support: A New Life of Service Explore how his journey from addiction to recovery shaped his dedication to creating supportive infrastructures for others struggling with addiction, and gain insights into his unique approach to substance use prevention. To find other similar episodes by topic, click here. Connect with Dr. Elswick Website | voicesofhopelex.org Instagram | @voicesofhopelex Ready to Begin Your Recovery Journey? Complete this form to speak confidentially with an admissions counselor for help and guidance or take the self assessment to evaluate your own substance use. Already in recovery, find an online support community. Connect with The Courage to Change Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast YouTube | The Courage to Change Podcast TikTok | @ashleyloebblassingame Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast Lionrock Resources Lionrock Life Mobile App | lionrock.life/mobile-app Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings