Mike's Story

I was a star athlete in high school, I played both varsity basketball and baseball. Scouts were coming to my games and a division 1 scholarship seemed like a reality. I had a bright future, I injured my shoulder in Spring baseball and had to get surgery.

They gave me pain pills to help with rehab. At first, it was easy to get refills, I just told them I was in pain from the surgery. My shoulder never fully healed and the division 1 scholarships never happened, but my addiction to painkillers got worse and worse. I found myself taking the pills just to feel normal. I couldn't get enough of them from my doctors so I started going to dealers. I was hooked, making sure that I had enough pills to get through each day took over my life. I was afraid to run out, I wanted to stop but I couldn't. it was a terrible way to live, I hid my addiction from everyone but my dad could tell something was wrong. We both agreed I needed to detox off the pills.

He called Freedom From Addiction and spoke with a treatment specialist who explained the process. They got me into a treatment program with a caring therapist and people I could relate to. I found out I wasn't the only one going through this, addiction affects everyone. They helped me manage the sadness and disappointment I was going through as a young person.

Now I am an Athletics coach at my old high school, funny how things come full circle sometimes. I have my family and my friends, my health, and my happiness. I'm forever grateful to my dad for making the initial phone call to Freedom From Addiction, he said my life.