Advocate Spotlight: Marie Kiely
Marie Kiely’s advocacy is powered by love, loss, and a deep commitment to ensuring individuals and families receive accurate information and compassionate, evidence-based care for alcohol use disorder (AUD). After losing her 44-year-old son, Ben, to cardiac arrest resulting from AUD, Marie channeled her grief into action. Ben did everything he was told to do to get well, yet he did not receive evidence-based treatment, and his family was given outdated information on how to support him. Marie had never even seen Ben drink alcohol. He worked full-time, had strong friendships and family ties, and as Marie says, “he was the joy of my life.” They never imagined someone so young and healthy could die from alcohol use.
Marie speaks openly about the stigma her family encountered, the lack of evidence-based treatment options they were offered, and the urgent need for systems that meet people with AUD where they are—with dignity, medical care, and real support.
“I believe my son would be alive today if I had known then what I know now. He asked for medical help and followed the advice given to him. Families deserve accurate information and people with AUD deserve evidence-based treatment.”
Advocating for Evidence-Based Treatment
Marie’s advocacy centers on three interconnected priorities:
- Effective, evidence-based treatment for AUD — in 2023, less than 10% of people with past-year alcohol use disorder received any treatment, and only 2.5% received medication-assisted treatment.
- Stigma reduction — challenging harmful beliefs and language that blame individuals, and treating AUD as a medical condition that deserves evidence‑based care.
- Accurate information for families — promoting compassionate, effective ways for families to support loved ones with AUD.
Despite her background in public health, Marie learned—only after losing her son—that many treatment programs are not required to provide evidence-based care. That realization fuels her drive to educate policymakers, treatment providers, and families about what truly works.
Learning from New Futures
Marie watched her son cycle through multiple hospitalizations and non-evidence-based treatment programs, and was advised by their staff and by therapists not to help him. This showed her firsthand just how stigma and misinformation create real harm. When she later connected with New Futures, she found a trusted, well-resourced home for her story and her skills.
“When Ben died, I was devastated and angry, and I knew then that the advice we were given had been wrong. New Futures gave me that place for my advocacy—training, support, and resources—so that all I had to do was tell my story.”
Advocacy in Action
Marie has become a steadfast advocate, using her family’s experience to advocate for change in New Hampshire. She has testified at numerous public hearings, telling lawmakers why our state must strengthen its substance use treatment system and sharing Ben’s story to show what happens when people don’t get the evidence-based treatment they need. She often brings a photo of Ben, taken on Mother’s Day just five months before he died. “He looks so healthy,” she tells lawmakers. “But he needed medical care, not judgment.”
Marie testifying at a public hearing with a photo of Ben, in support of a bill that would strengthen NH's substance use treatment system.
Marie has authored op-eds in her local newspaper, including a 2025 piece to support full funding of the Alcohol Fund in New Hampshire’s state budget. She participated in a roundtable discussion on the Alcohol Fund to bring her family’s experience to funding priorities and system gaps, and was featured in New Futures’ 2025 Impact Report.
Marie's feature in New Futures' 2025 Impact Report.
One of Marie’s most rewarding advocacy moments was speaking at the Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center’s annual addiction conference. She presented Ben’s story to a broad group of health care providers, social workers, recovery professionals, and other care teams, so they could hear what happens when systems are ineffective, and what must change.
Advice for Fellow Advocates
Marie’s advice for incoming (and seasoned) advocates is to find a trusted organization aligned with your values and goals. Use their training opportunities and resources to help you share your story and amplify your impact.
Beyond Advocacy
Outside of legislative halls and roundtables, Marie seeks peace outdoors. Recently retired from the Aging and Disability Resource Center, she spends time gardening, biking, hiking, birdwatching, and taking photos—often with friends. She’s candid about grief’s fatigue and intentional about finding moments of restoration in nature.
Thank you, Marie, for your tireless advocacy for evidence-based AUD treatment and compassionate family support in New Hampshire!
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