Mary Beth O'Connor
@marybethoconnor.bsky.social
From Junkie to Judge memoir. Teenage meth addict and multiple trauma survivor, to secular recovery, to federal judge. I speak and write about a variety of substance use, harm reduction, and recovery topics. junkietojudge.com
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From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction
From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction [O'Connor, Mary Beth] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction
a.co
Mary Beth's story chronicles her sometimes harrowing journey from addiction to recovery. In the face of wilting trauma, she attained longstanding sobriety and reclaimed her tremendous potential. Highly recommend. - Ryan Weltz #memoir #quitlit #books
a.co/d/1WyEKwF
a.co/d/1WyEKwF
February 12, 2026 at 1:55 PM
More importantly than surviving is the story of [her] incredibly strong spirit, her intelligence and her incredible strength that never left her from early childhood through her traumatic home life, through her #addiction, her abuse and her trauma. - Goodreads Reviewer Megan #quitlit
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
February 12, 2026 at 1:49 PM
More importantly than surviving is the story of [her] incredibly strong spirit, her intelligence and her incredible strength that never left her from early childhood through her traumatic home life, through her #addiction, her abuse and her trauma. - Goodreads Reviewer Megan #quitlit
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
Choosing an #addiction recovery program that is the right fit for you doesn't mean you're looking for "an easier, softer way." In fact, building an individual program or doing something different than those around you can be harder. Although if anyone finds an easier way that works, let us know!
February 12, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Choosing an #addiction recovery program that is the right fit for you doesn't mean you're looking for "an easier, softer way." In fact, building an individual program or doing something different than those around you can be harder. Although if anyone finds an easier way that works, let us know!
Video teaching how to respond to an #overdose using Narcan. #addiction #harmreduction
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzAv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzAv...
How to Administer Narcan in an Opioid Overdose - Overdose Prevention Fund
YouTube video by UMASS TOX Overdose Prevention Fund
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Video teaching how to respond to an #overdose using Narcan. #addiction #harmreduction
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzAv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzAv...
This website provides information about free and low cost #medical care, including for #mentalhealth and #addiction treatment: nafcclinics.org/find-clinic/
Find a Clinic | National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
Whether you need free or low-cost healthcare, want to learn about volunteer opportunities or want to offer support, find the closest clinic right here.
nafcclinics.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:31 PM
This website provides information about free and low cost #medical care, including for #mentalhealth and #addiction treatment: nafcclinics.org/find-clinic/
Healing from an #addiction is not only about abstaining, but also about developing a balanced emotional state, reshaping one’s thought patterns, healing any underlying issues (such as co-occurring mental health disorders and trauma) and finding purpose. #RecoveryPosse #WeDoRecover
a watch with a heart and the words time to heal
ALT: a watch with a heart and the words time to heal
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Healing from an #addiction is not only about abstaining, but also about developing a balanced emotional state, reshaping one’s thought patterns, healing any underlying issues (such as co-occurring mental health disorders and trauma) and finding purpose. #RecoveryPosse #WeDoRecover
I refer friends/family of those with an #addiction to this book. Which provides a good explanation of techniques that are much more effective than "you're going to the rehab I picked for you and you're doing it now or I'll never speak to you again."
a.co/d/0i5u7Z4Q
a.co/d/0i5u7Z4Q
Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change
Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change [Foote, Jeffrey, Wilkens, Carrie, Kosanke, Nicole, Higgs, Stephanie, Whitaker, Holly] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change
a.co
February 9, 2026 at 12:44 PM
I refer friends/family of those with an #addiction to this book. Which provides a good explanation of techniques that are much more effective than "you're going to the rehab I picked for you and you're doing it now or I'll never speak to you again."
a.co/d/0i5u7Z4Q
a.co/d/0i5u7Z4Q
Too often those with some successful #Addiction recovery think they know what everyone else must do to succeed. Accepting that what works for me and what will work for you might be different is, to me, a key concept when engaging with newcomers. #recoveryposse #sobriety
February 8, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Too often those with some successful #Addiction recovery think they know what everyone else must do to succeed. Accepting that what works for me and what will work for you might be different is, to me, a key concept when engaging with newcomers. #recoveryposse #sobriety
Good overview of the history and impact of extreme federal drug laws targeting those guilty only of drug use, particularly in regard to racial disparity. #racialjustice #addiction #drugs
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Race, Mass Incarceration, and the Disastrous War on Drugs
Unravelling decades of racially biased anti-drug policies is a monumental project.
www.brennancenter.org
February 8, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Good overview of the history and impact of extreme federal drug laws targeting those guilty only of drug use, particularly in regard to racial disparity. #racialjustice #addiction #drugs
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
There are therapists who will work with people on moderating alcohol/drug consumption. If they can succeed with moderating, great. Many can't and trying to moderate can be part of the process of realizing this, while improving health in the meanwhile through lowered consumption.
February 8, 2026 at 12:13 AM
There are therapists who will work with people on moderating alcohol/drug consumption. If they can succeed with moderating, great. Many can't and trying to moderate can be part of the process of realizing this, while improving health in the meanwhile through lowered consumption.
Sobriety and recovery bring amazing changes. I sometimes use the simple example of how, in my #addiction, the odds of me showing up to your birthday party were about 1/3rd. In recovery, I'd show up, with a gift, and behave appropriately! 😃 #recoveryposse #soberlife
a cupcake with pink frosting is surrounded by sparklers with the words happy birthday written in the background
ALT: a cupcake with pink frosting is surrounded by sparklers with the words happy birthday written in the background
media.tenor.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Sobriety and recovery bring amazing changes. I sometimes use the simple example of how, in my #addiction, the odds of me showing up to your birthday party were about 1/3rd. In recovery, I'd show up, with a gift, and behave appropriately! 😃 #recoveryposse #soberlife
Interesting study explaining the benefits of #addiction professionals with lived experience. But also the need for training to overcome frequent biases such as believing their recovery approach is the only way and as to medications. #recoveryposse #medical
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The benefits and potential biases of lived experience in substance use treatment services
Research points to the value of shared lived experience in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, but most focuses solely on professionals in designated peer support (PS) roles. Drawing on in-depth i...
www.tandfonline.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Interesting study explaining the benefits of #addiction professionals with lived experience. But also the need for training to overcome frequent biases such as believing their recovery approach is the only way and as to medications. #recoveryposse #medical
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Good review of why mandatory rehab isn't the solution to any of our problems, including that"[forced #addiction treatment] cannot substitute for a fully funded spectrum of voluntary care or become a shortcut for bottlenecks, underfunding, or political point-scoring."
publicola.com/2025/09/25/t...
publicola.com/2025/09/25/t...
The Siren Song of Forced Drug Treatment - PubliCola
By Susan Collins When big cities struggle with visible addiction, one solution that inevitably resurfaces is forcing people into treatment.…
publicola.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Good review of why mandatory rehab isn't the solution to any of our problems, including that"[forced #addiction treatment] cannot substitute for a fully funded spectrum of voluntary care or become a shortcut for bottlenecks, underfunding, or political point-scoring."
publicola.com/2025/09/25/t...
publicola.com/2025/09/25/t...
When I talk to newbies I often say that I understand that giving up substances seems like a big loss in the beginning. But reassure them that they will find that this loss seems much less important over time. Because the gains from #sobriety are massive. #RecoveryPosse #addiction
February 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
When I talk to newbies I often say that I understand that giving up substances seems like a big loss in the beginning. But reassure them that they will find that this loss seems much less important over time. Because the gains from #sobriety are massive. #RecoveryPosse #addiction
Being in a therapy group for #women with #Trauma histories was enlightening for me. They'd connected their current reactions and behaviors back to the abuse in ways I hadn't. This new understanding helped me heal and change more efficiently and effectively. #healing
a woman in a plaid shirt says ohh okay on snl
ALT: a woman in a plaid shirt says ohh okay on snl
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Implementing evidence-based practices such as starting meds or therapy when hospitalized and linking them to treatment improves quality of care for patients with substance use disorders and reduces costs related to 30-day unplanned readmissions. Allison Rosen #healthcare #opioids #addiction
February 4, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Implementing evidence-based practices such as starting meds or therapy when hospitalized and linking them to treatment improves quality of care for patients with substance use disorders and reduces costs related to 30-day unplanned readmissions. Allison Rosen #healthcare #opioids #addiction
Intimate partners are responsible for 85% of the violence committed against women, according to UNESCO. Per the World Health Organization, 27% of #women aged 15–49 who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their partner. #domesticviolence #abuse
a woman says let me help you with a netflix logo behind her
ALT: a woman says let me help you with a netflix logo behind her
media.tenor.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Intimate partners are responsible for 85% of the violence committed against women, according to UNESCO. Per the World Health Organization, 27% of #women aged 15–49 who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their partner. #domesticviolence #abuse
Rather than prioritizing effective treatment for kids schools often use "zero-tolerance” drug policies that deny essential care and pushed them out of educational and social settings, based on the mistaken belief that stigma or incarceration leads to improvement.
davisvanguard.org/2026/01/adol...
davisvanguard.org/2026/01/adol...
Kids in Juvenile Systems Lack Access to Drug Treatment - Davis Vanguard
Adolescents in the US face significant barriers to accessing effective drug treatment, with only 31% of children ages 12-17 with an opioid use disorder receiving any form of treatment in the past year...
davisvanguard.org
February 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Rather than prioritizing effective treatment for kids schools often use "zero-tolerance” drug policies that deny essential care and pushed them out of educational and social settings, based on the mistaken belief that stigma or incarceration leads to improvement.
davisvanguard.org/2026/01/adol...
davisvanguard.org/2026/01/adol...
I could read Mary Beth’s story a million times over and celebrate her #recovery success with each read. A life of survival, an honest and deep dive into her life of abuse, substance use disorder and #Trauma. - Goodreads Reviewer Megan #Books
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
February 3, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I could read Mary Beth’s story a million times over and celebrate her #recovery success with each read. A life of survival, an honest and deep dive into her life of abuse, substance use disorder and #Trauma. - Goodreads Reviewer Megan #Books
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
a.co/d/7dC5xhV
#Podcast discussion includes the joy of freeing my mental and emotional energies for use doing what I actually enjoy, the importance of asking why you're using alcohol or other drugs, and the reasons I developed an #addiction as a teen. #recoveryposse
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
212: Finding Freedom After Addiction — The Inspiring Journey of Mary Beth O'Connor
Podcast Episode · Warriors Unmasked · 12/23/2025 · 45m
podcasts.apple.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
#Podcast discussion includes the joy of freeing my mental and emotional energies for use doing what I actually enjoy, the importance of asking why you're using alcohol or other drugs, and the reasons I developed an #addiction as a teen. #recoveryposse
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
Even in #sobriety recovery, bad things will happen in our lives. We learn how to handle them and not pick up a substance. Because that only will make the situation worse. #recoveryposse #soberlife
February 2, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Even in #sobriety recovery, bad things will happen in our lives. We learn how to handle them and not pick up a substance. Because that only will make the situation worse. #recoveryposse #soberlife
February 1, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Robust Good Samaritan law protections when seeking help for someone who overdosed reduces deaths, particularly when combined with Naloxone Access laws. Because friends sharing drugs aren't afraid to call 911 due to risk of arrest. #overdose #opioids #addiction
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Good Samaritan Laws and Overdose Mortality in the United States in the Fentanyl Era
As of July 2018, 45 United States (US) states and the District of Columbia have enacted an overdose Good Samaritan law (GSL). These laws, which provide limited criminal immunity to individuals who request assistance during an overdose, may be of ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
February 1, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Robust Good Samaritan law protections when seeking help for someone who overdosed reduces deaths, particularly when combined with Naloxone Access laws. Because friends sharing drugs aren't afraid to call 911 due to risk of arrest. #overdose #opioids #addiction
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Catastrophizing, obsessing, and perfectionism were some of the ways my #ptsd-induced severe #anxiety showed itself. #MentalHealthMatters
a woman with red hair is sitting in a car with the words " my brain does n't shut off " next to her
ALT: a woman with red hair is sitting in a car with the words " my brain does n't shut off " next to her
media.tenor.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Catastrophizing, obsessing, and perfectionism were some of the ways my #ptsd-induced severe #anxiety showed itself. #MentalHealthMatters
Good piece on the importance of timely drug checking, so the community and the individual knows what's in the drug supply. #harmreduction #opioids #overdose
oneill.law.georgetown.edu/beyond-fenta...
oneill.law.georgetown.edu/beyond-fenta...
Beyond Fentanyl: A Case for Investments in Drug Checking Infrastructure and Real-Time Drug Supply Surveillance
This Expert Column argues for immediate investment in advanced drug checking infrastructure, operational funding for trained harm reduction providers, and modernization of federal and state surveillan...
oneill.law.georgetown.edu
January 31, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Good piece on the importance of timely drug checking, so the community and the individual knows what's in the drug supply. #harmreduction #opioids #overdose
oneill.law.georgetown.edu/beyond-fenta...
oneill.law.georgetown.edu/beyond-fenta...