5 Business Icons Open About Their Struggle With Drugs and Alcohol
Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Highly Successful People
There is often a picture depicted in the media of individuals with substance use disorders who come from lower socioeconomic statuses or experience hardships, including loss of employment, housing, or connections with others. Drug and alcohol addiction is often characterized by individuals having a decline in performance in work or school and demonstrating an inability to maintain daily life commitments and responsibilities.
However, some individuals are considered high-functioning alcoholics or high-functioning addicts that can maintain the high demands of work and show little to no symptoms or indicators that drug and alcohol addiction is impacting their lives. Although it may not appear that substance abuse is creating adverse side effects within a high-functioning addict, drug and alcohol abuse will increase the risk of experiencing physical health and mental health consequences the longer the substance abuse progresses.
Numerous highly successful business leaders and icons with a history of battling drug and alcohol addiction successfully overcame their substance use disorders. Below are five business icons that have been open and candid about their struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
Audrey Gelman
Audrey Gelman is the founder and CEO of the Wing, a co-working space and social club for women. Gelman openly shared her milestone within Alcoholics Anonymous on Twitter. Gelman had not been public about her struggles with alcoholism within the media prior but took a picture of her chip that was given out with the caption “three years today.”
Larry Kudlow
Larry Kudlow, the White House economic advisor and former Wall Street economic advisor has been open and candid about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction before starting to work with President Donald Trump as the Senior Economic Advisor. Kudlow has reported that he had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction when working with Bear Stearns and left his position there in 1994 to enter into drug and alcohol rehab. He has been clean and sober for the last 23 years.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey has had considerable success in her career as a wellness advisor and CEO of the Oprah Winfrey Network, becoming a billionaire mogul from her business ventures. Oprah has shared through her story on The Today Show that she had started her career as an anchorwoman in the 1970s. During this period, Oprah shared that she struggled with an addiction to crack cocaine.
Steve Madden
Steve Madden was an entrepreneur who started his shoe company out of the back of his car. His success grew, and Madden shoes became a $3 billion company with shoes sold worldwide. The success of Madden shoes became hindered in 2002 when a federal judge found Madden guilty of fraud and money laundering. These crimes were later found to directly result from Madden’s drug addiction. He would go on to seek help within an addiction treatment center and has been sober since 2013.
Read about Ed Sheeran’s struggle with substance abuse here:
Brene Brown
Brene Brown is widely known for her popular Ted talks that speak on the topics of vulnerability and shame and best-selling books. Brown shares that her success is primarily attributed to her journey of overcoming alcohol addiction. Brown has been open about her experiences with alcohol addiction and how Alcoholics Anonymous has helped her to overcome substance abuse and remain clean and sober for the last 26 years.
Addiction Treatment for High-Net-Worth Individuals at Novo Detox
Novo Detox offers an executive drug and alcohol rehab for high-net-worth individuals that honors your personal experience with substance abuse through individualized treatment programs. With the support of evidence-based therapy methods, patients will be able to process the underlying causes of drugs and alcohol while gaining the tools and life skills for relapse prevention to ensure long-term success in addiction recovery.
Our treatment centers provide a private, supportive environment that allows you to dive deep into the root causes of your drug and alcohol addiction with a high therapist-to-patient ratio. Your success in addiction treatment is our top priority, and we will be with you every step of the way as you heal from your past to create a strong foundation in the future for sober living. Contact Novo Detox at (844) 834-1777 today to hear more about the customized treatment plan offered to high-net-worth individuals and start your journey to recovery.
