Mary Beth O'Connor on finding alternative recovery

Recovery Reform: Navigating Harm Reduction, Recovery, and Drug Policy

Mary Beth O'Connor is the author of the book "From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction." She began her recovery from methamphetamine use disorder, abuse, trauma, and anxiety in 1994. She never found traditional recovery spaces such as step-based recovery programs helpful to her, and found alternative recovery spaces early on.

Six years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended UC Berkeley School of Law. She worked at a large firm, then litigated class action suits for the federal government. In 2014, she was appointed a federal Administrative Law Judge, a position from which she retired early in 2020.

Mary Beth is now a Director for She Recovers Foundation and for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She also is on the Advisory Council for The Hyer Calling Foundation. She regularly speaks on behalf of these organizations and about multiple paths to recovery..

She develops relationships with other organizations, such as Women for Sobriety and trains attorneys, judges, and medical professionals. Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others.
Website: https://junkietojudge.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/

Bluesky: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/marybethoconnor.bsky.social