Oct 21, 2014 | By Tim Stoddart

9 Bad Ass People in Recovery You Need to Know About

Addiction & Recovery News

When I first got clean, I never thought I would meet so many bad ass people doing awesome things for the world around them. There is so much passion and excitement behind what we do, and I get such a high out of watching the work that other people dedicate themselves to. There is no way I can fit everyone in this list. If I left you out, be sure to email me at tim@sobernation.com and maybe I can put you on. As of now, take a look at some of the bad ass people doing great things for recovery.

Justin Luke Riley – CEO and President of Young People in Recovery.

Out of all the bad ass people I know, Justin Luke Riley may top the list. I first met Justin in a conference in Philadelphia when Young People in Recovery (YPR) was just getting started. He has an energy about him that is difficult to explain. The way he speaks, and the vibe he gives off is infectious. It’s inspiring to say the least.

The most impressive thing about Justin is his commitment. My friends and family all tell me I work too much, but when I see what Justin does it baffles me. Between YPR, his own work in Colorado, voluntary mission trips to Africa, serving on the board for Faces and Voices and keeping his relationship with his beautiful wife – I wonder how he has time to sleep in between it all.

If you ever get a chance to meet JLR, it would be highly beneficial for you to take a minute and speak to him.

Lisa Frederiksen – Breaking the Cycles

Lisa created the organization and website BreakingtheCycles.com. She works day and night to help people who are suffering from addiction, while constantly using her blog to promote awareness, understanding and to educate people on new addiction treatment models.

For more than a decade, the author, speaker and consultant, Lisa Frederiksen has been consulting, researching, writing and speaking on substance abuse, addiction as a brain disease, dual diagnosis, secondhand drinking/drugging, mental illness and help for the family and related topics — all centered around 21st century brain and substance misuse-related research.

She is pretty bad ass.

Josh Butcher – New Lyfe Clothing

This handsome fella is the founder of New Lyfe Clothing. New Lyfe is a new age street wear brand that has a unique culture around sobriety and positive energy. The vibe of New Lyfe is cool because they incorporate different messages into their culture of positive healthy living, but it’s not a super in your face sobriety brand. It has a good balance and the mastermind behind the concept and designs is pretty boy Josh Butcher.

We interviewed Josh a little while back, and as we were checking up on things it seems as if things are going really well with his brand. They have a new line being released soon. See below…

We are a wild group of people who live life to the fullest. We don’t shy away from going out and partying just like we used to (minus the drugs and alcohol obviously) and we think that you can do anything you want to do and still have fun in recovery.

– Josh Butcher

Leonard Buschel – Reel Recovery Film

We are currently doing some work with Leonard and his team to promote his organization the Reel Recovery Film Festival. The film festival travels around the country and has events in 9 different cities. The event is always a huge success and it promotes people in recovery and their stories.

Leonard had originally founded the organization Writers in Treatment. The Reel Recovery Film Festival is an off shoot of that organization.

“This multi-day event is a celebration of film, the arts, writing and creativity. We showcase filmmakers who make honest films about addiction, alcoholism, behavioral disorders, treatment and recovery. Slated for screening is an eclectic lineup of contemporary and classic films, documentaries and shorts from American and international, first-time filmmakers and industry veterans.”

Leonard also has multiple years in recovery and gives back as a Substance Abuse Counselor.

Pretty bad ass if you ask me.

Ferril Davis and Dom Suazo – Party Sober Clothing Co.

I have known Ferril and Dom ever since we first interviewed them on their upstart line. It’s pretty amazing to see how far they have come.

Party Sober Clothing is a sober clothing line that gets its roots from the hardcore music scene. They have been featured on Warped Tour and can be seen running around the hardcore circle with many of their favorite bands. Both Ferril and Dom are open about their recovery and all their designs speak very blatantly to the recovery community. They are both really cool, fun loving kids with a good head on their shoulders.

“Being clear minded is how you achieve your dreams. We both had a change in our perception about what fun was when we got sober. When we looked back, we realized that our idea about fun was completely askew.”

– Ferril Davis

Greg Williams – The Anonymous People

Greg is a pretty humble guy that stays out of the spot light. He directed a film entitled The Anonymous People which features the 23 million Americans who struggle with addiction, and how society keeps the disease in the shadows.

I can tell you that he has put thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars into his film, and it has been received well. We even stood up for the Anonymous People when they were being ridiculed.

Watch the preview below…

Tom and Kate – I Am Not Anonymous

Tom and Kate started a website called I Am Not Anonymous. Kate uses her awesome photography talents to showcase recovered addicts and share their stories.

Tom is in recovery himself (Kate is not) and the two of them use their personal experience with addiction for inspiration to spread awareness of addiction and more importantly show the beauty of people in recovery.

They have a great story and the two of them are so nice and easy to talk to. It is amazing how they have turned their hardship into a strength and have used it to promote change. They have been featured on Sober Nation and also The Huffington Post.

If you know of anymore bad ass people or oganizations please to do not hesitate to send them to us. You can send us links on our Facebook page or you can email them to me at tim@sobernation.com.

I hope these people have inspired you as they do me. It is proof that if you put your mind towards something, work hard and keep recovery a priority, you can truly be of service to the world around you.