Lived Experience with Family Generational Substance Use Disorders 

 

Tom O'Connor is a respected and well-known author in the field of substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. His work spans both nonfiction and fiction, earning widespread popularity and admiration.

 

As a child, Tom grew up in a dysfunctional, alcoholic household, and as an adult, he still exhibited traits that reflected past neglect. He learned that some of his survival skills only worked during childhood, not adulthood.

 

This sparked Tom's transformative journey to heal from a parent suffering from a substance use disorder. When he was twelve, Tom began writing stories—his version of "The Catcher in the Rye" about his own childhood. He also started writing poetry.

 

Tom graduated from college with a B.A. in psychology. He founded and managed the leading national market research and business growth strategy consulting firm in the Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC/R distribution channels.

 

He became a prolific writer and a popular national keynote speaker as a business strategist, publishing books and contributing to nationally distributed magazines.

 

Upon retirement, his firstborn son, T.J., successfully succeeded him at the Farmington Consulting Group. Tom and his wife, Dawn, share their home in Venice, Florida, with two golden retrievers. Their dogs are an important part of their daily routine and bring joy to their lives.

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Tom is the publisher of the Vital Voyage Blog, and Dawn is its managing editor and webmaster. They publish 4 articles weekly from 70+ mental health experts for 650+ global professional practitioners.