Addiction and Leadership: How Authentic and Transformative Leaders Are Emerging From the Adversity of Substance Use Disorder

This session will explore the leadership traits and entrepreneurial focus held by people with substance use disorder (SUD). The purpose of this presentation is to help advance understanding of the positive qualities people with SUD possess that can produce positive societal and organizational benefits once that person enters recovery. Additionally, this understanding can provide insight on effective treatment approaches that incorporate personal attributes and entrepreneurial inclinations into the model for recovery.

The session will feature results and conclusions from a qualitative study that included semi-structured interviews, observations, and a focus group, allowing the researchers to conduct a thematic coding analysis. The participants came from diverse backgrounds and included participants from multiple regions across the United States. The findings revealed that people in addiction possess numerous leadership traits that position them for effective leadership and are further developed during their recovery journey. In addition, it was determined that providing entrepreneurial opportunities in recovery enhanced desirable outcomes. The impact of this study will change how people view addiction. Identifying the hidden treasures of leadership and entrepreneurship that are present in those struggling with addiction could illuminate recovery pathways that help identify purpose and value. This would not only advance treatment opportunities, but greatly assist organizations that need visionary and creative leaders. People with SUD have all the right tools to become effective leaders and business owners, and this understanding can help mitigate the stigma associated with addiction and paint it in a more positive light.