White House Adviser Shares 20+ Years of Sobriety

The voices in Kathryn Burgum's head told her she wasn't good enough, that she always made mistakes. Then she discovered alcohol made them stop.

"I was like, 'This is the answer. This is nirvana,'" Burgum recalled. But that first drink in high school led to a 20-year battle with addiction.

During those two decades, Burgum earned an MBA and advanced her career. The one thing she couldn't do was stop drinking.

The struggle made her feel suicidal. Then during a walk, something shifted.

"I just said, out loud, 'If there's anybody out there, I need help,'" Burgum said. "And I have been sober and in recovery since I said those words."

That was more than 20 years ago. Today, Burgum serves as co-chair of President Donald Trump's Great American Recovery Initiative and White House senior adviser for addiction and recovery.

She shared her story at the National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. The event brought together outdoor recreation executives, health experts, and federal leaders exploring how nature can address health challenges.

Burgum appeared on stage with Stacy Bare, a combat veteran and recovery advocate. Their candid conversation left many in the audience teary-eyed.

As North Dakota's former first lady, Burgum championed reducing stigma around addiction and recovery. She had planned to take time off after her husband left the governorship.

Instead, life gave her a bigger platform. Her work now reaches the national level through the Great American Recovery Initiative, an executive order titled "Addressing the Disease of Addiction."

The Ripple Effect

Burgum's willingness to share her personal struggles is changing how addiction is discussed at the highest levels of government. By framing addiction as a chronic disease rather than a moral failing, she's helping reshape public policy and public perception.

Her journey from a young woman silenced by childhood trauma to a national advocate shows how personal recovery can spark systemic change. The forum attendees who heard her story will carry that message into their communities and organizations across the country.

Growing up in North Dakota, Burgum learned children should be seen and not heard. She attended a Catholic high school where she said abuse was common and felt isolated and alone.

Now her voice reaches millions who struggle with similar demons. Her message is simple: asking for help is the first step toward recovery.

Twenty years of sobriety proves that step was worth taking.