ACDE Webinar | Recovery Capital for Substance Use Disorder: Assets, not Abstinence

Alex Elswick, BA, MS, PhD

Dr. Elswick joined the Department of Family Sciences at the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry in 2020 as an Assistant Extension Professor for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. He began his journey with the department as a graduate student in 2015, where he earned his Master's and PhD and later served Family and Consumer Sciences Extension as an Extension Associate and as an Extension Specialist. Dr. Elswick's Extension emphasis focuses on equipping Extension to build recovery capital in the community. Dr. Elswick's research agenda examines long-term recovery from substance use disorder. In particular, much of his research looks at recovery capital, an assets-based approach to understanding addiction recovery. As co-founder of a Lexington-based non-profit organization called Voices of Hope, Dr. Elswick is a tireless advocate for people with substance use disorder. He promotes long-term recovery by providing education in the community, reducing stigma, and studying the effectiveness of recovery support services. His professional experience, non-profit work, and research agenda focus on long-term recovery. But most importantly, Alex is himself a person in long-term recovery from the chronic disease of addiction.