Jean Kirkpatrick

Jean Kirkpatrick (March 2, 1923 - June 19, 2000 ) was an American sociologist, researcher, and visionary leader whose work fundamentally reshaped addiction recovery for women. Drawing from both her academic expertise and her lived experience with alcoholism, she founded Women for Sobriety in 1975. . Her academic journey, marked by disruption and determination, deeply informed her understanding of recovery as a nonlinear but achievable process.

Kirkpatrick’s contributions to the field of addiction recovery have been widely recognized. In 1978, she received the Raymond Haupert Humanitarian Award from Moravian College. for her pioneering efforts to support women struggling with alcoholism. Through her writing, speaking, and program development, she helped shift the conversation around recovery to include gender responsive and psychologically informed approaches.

Publications Kirkpatrick authored several influential works that extended the reach of her philosophy and program. Her publications include A Fresh Start (1977), a biographical account of her journey; Turnabout: Help for a New Life (1978); Goodbye Hangovers, Hello Life Self Help for Women (1986) ; and On the Road to Sell Recovery (1991).