Michael Botticelli

Michael Botticelli is a prominent figure in the field of public health, focusing on addiction and recovery. He served as the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Obama Administration, marking him as the first individual in this position to be in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder and who possessed a public health background.

After his tenure at the White House, Botticelli became the inaugural director of the Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center. This role brought him back to Boston, where he had previously worked as the Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In this capacity, he collaborated extensively with various experts to expand successful addiction care models throughout Massachusetts and nationally. Botticelli also holds the title of Distinguished Policy Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, contributing further to academic and practical discussions on addiction.

In addition to his roles in various institutions, Botticelli has engaged in significant advocacy and research. He has held various leadership positions within the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors and contributed as a member of advisory committees for both the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. His expertise and insights have been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and television programs like "60 Minutes." Currently, Botticelli is consulting for the United States State Department to establish a Global Recovery Network, aiming to enhance international strategies against addiction. He continues to deliver impactful talks on treating addiction as a medical condition, confronting stigma, and addressing the opioid crisis.

Born in Upstate New York, Michael Botticelli holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Siena College and a Master of Education degree from St. Lawrence University. His more than 35 years in long-term recovery underscores his deep personal and professional commitment to advancing addiction treatment and recovery frameworks.