Becoming Wildly Resilient: Humanity in Recovery

Dr. Alex Elswick, an Assistant Extension Professor with the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, joined “Becoming Wildly Resilient” in March 2023 to talk about addiction, recovery and our shared humanity. Alex is also a co-founder of Voices of Hope, a Lexington-based non-profit supporting people who use or have used drugs or alcohol and are seeking better health.

Listen as Alex shares a wealth of knowledge from his lived experience and professional work. Some of what you’ll learn includes: what substance use disorder and recovery look like; what people commonly misunderstand about addiction and recovery, and how we can contribute to the shifting narrative; a holistic approach to recovery, including the power of social connection; and ways we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for those affected by addiction and recovery. You’ll also hear about Alex’s story from addiction to recovery and what he’s learned about resilience along the way.
 

Mentioned in this Episode

• Related Episodes:
  • “Ep. 21: Cultivating Connection” with Dr. Anthony Limperos and Dr. Scott Soltis
  • “Ep. 23: From Empathy to Compassion” with Dr. Erin Hester
  • “Ep. 24: A Human-Centered Approach to Belonging” with Dr. John Nash
  • “Ep. 26: Understanding Anxiety and Depression” with Kim Releford, LCSW
  • “Ep. 27: Raising Resilient Children” with Dr. Alissa Briggs
  • “Ep. 28: Well-Being for All” with Lindsey Mullis and Morgan Turner
  • “Ep. 30: DEI, a Compass to Belonging” with Jason Brooks and Dr. DeShana Collett
• Community Service: UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Cooperative Extension Service
• Community Resource: Voices of Hope
• Research: Pew Research Center survey on the number of Americans directly affected by current or past drug addiction
• Definition: SAMHSA’s working definition of recovery
• National Speaking Engagements: video clips of Alex speaking at events with former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former President Donald Trump
• Construct: recovery capital
• Concept: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• Kentucky Community Resources:
  • Find addiction treatment openings
  • Kentucky Recovery Housing Network
  • Find the best recovery house for your needs
• University Resources:
  • Collegiate Recovery Community
  • Recovery Ally Training
  • UK Family Center
• Book: “Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction” by Maia Szalavitz
• Book: “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs” by Johann Hari
• Book: “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction” by David Sheff
• Playlist: A Wildly Resilient Playlist, available on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music
  • Do you want to contribute to the playlist? Email us your song.
• Employee Resource: five free counseling sessions with a therapist, including specialists in addiction and substance use
• New Employee Resource: free one-year access to Headspace, an evidence-based meditation and mindfulness app
• Upcoming Events: UK Human Resources calendar

Contact Us

Have feedback or know someone at UK that would be a good guest? Email us at healthandwellness@uky.edu.

You can listen and follow all episodes of "Becoming Wildly Resilient" wherever you find your podcasts.