Ashley O’Leary - Empowering Women to Overcome Trauma and Addiction

A Leader’s Journey podcast

It’s time to challenge the misconception that addiction is a choice. Addiction is often a response to trauma, and the homeless population is especially vulnerable to the vicious cycle of substance abuse and homelessness.

Our guest, Ashley O'Leary is an advocate for women's recovery and addiction awareness. Ashley leads two nonprofits that focus on recovery for women. One is a faith-based organization and the other is a city-based organization that focuses on homelessness. Ashley's passion for advocacy led her to join a team that advocates for new laws in the state and brings awareness and education around addiction and recovery.

#AddictionAwareness #Homelessness #Recovery #WomenInRecovery #HopeAndHealing #traumaresponse #harmreduction #mentorship #sobriety #generationaladdiction #parenting

The Vicious Cycle of Trauma: Substance Abuse and Homelessness
Trauma can lead to substance abuse and homelessness, as people struggle to cope with their emotions. Many lack the support and resources to recover, resulting in a cycle of pain and suffering.

The Success of Recovery-Oriented Housing in Maintaining Long-Term Sobriety
The recovery-oriented housing program helps individuals transition from treatment to a sober living environment, which includes accountability, house meetings, and a supportive community. The program typically lasts 9-18 months and has a high success rate in helping individuals maintain their sobriety long-term.

From College to Trafficking: A Harrowing Journey into the World of Sex Work
Ashley shares their experience of dropping out of college to become a stripper, which led to sex trafficking and escorting. She explains how pimps take advantage of women and coerce them into sex work, often providing drugs and transportation. Despite making more money in sex work than other jobs, it ultimately led to exploitation and trauma.

Escaping the Strip Club: Building a Support System for Women in the Sex Industry
The speaker shares her personal experience of working in a strip club and how it led to a path of self-destruction. She highlights a program that offers certifications to girls working in the sex industry, which can lead to better-paying jobs. The speaker discusses the difficulty in educating girls about the dangers of the industry, and how society can work towards changing the laws that allow for congressmen to participate in it. The speaker emphasizes the importance of building relationships with these women to create a support system for when they are ready to leave the industry.

The Link Between Generational Addiction and Cultural Acceptance
The speaker believes that most women deal with generational drug and alcohol abuse issues, and that the current culture's acceptance of experimentation with gender and sexuality may lead to negative consequences. She mentions common trauma buckets, including sexual abuse, and suggests that everyone has some type of trauma that can lead to negative outcomes if left unprocessed.