Derek Benson has been in recovery for over ten years.

 

He bounced between boarding schools growing up and graduated from The Hun School of Princeton in 2005. A scholarship athlete at both Purdue and Hofstra University, Derek had every reason to stay on track—but behind the polished exterior, the cracks were already forming.

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Both prescribed and recreational drug use spiraled into full-blown addiction. He saw it happening—knew it was a problem—but couldn’t stop. After graduation, the double life deepened: drinking, drug addiction, and chaos continued to escalate, even as he stepped into a career in finance. On the surface, he had it all—Wall Street job, NYU graduate studies, and a résumé that looked clean. But inside, he was imploding for years.

 

By 2014, Derek had lost everything except his life. He was arrested, detained, and faced multiple criminal charges. Eighteen months later, he entered an intensive rehab facility. What followed was a long stretch of post-treatment programs, court requirements, and the gritty process of learning how to live again.

It was in treatment—stripped of distractions and denial—that a question from his father came roaring back:

“Son, do you think you’re a good investment… Why?!”

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“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
— Marcus Aurelius

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Addiction didn’t destroy Derek’s life—it stripped away the lies. The wreckage allowed him to face hard truths, take ownership, and start rebuilding from the inside out. That rock bottom moment became the turning point. Everything changed when he made one decision: Seek & Invest in Sobriety.

 

Today, Derek shares his experience across the country, speaking at schools, treatment centers, and public forums. He works with athletes, students, medical professionals, and community organizations to raise awareness about addiction, the opioid crisis, and—most importantly—what recovery actually looks like.