Mike's Recovery from Opioid & Alcohol Addiction at Carrier Clinic

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When you meet MIke today, you meet a father, son, brother, friend, neighbor and business owner. He’s the kind of person you’d never guess once struggled with addiction - someone living proof that recovery is real and change is possible.

Mike is five years sober. His journey wasn’t easy, but it led him to reclaim his life, his health and his family. It began, as it does for so many, with pain, prescription medication and a slow slide into dependency.

Mike started experimenting with alcohol and cigarettes in middle school. In high school, he was a promising soccer player until a serious knee injury ended his season. After surgery, his doctor prescribed Percocet. What began as legitimate pain relief became something else entirely. The medication didn’t just numb the physical pain, it quieted everything else too.

Over time,that feeling became something he chased. When OxyContin appeared, he took it. When that was taken off the market, he turned to a cheaper, more dangerous alternative - heroin. What started as an injury became a full-blown addiction that nearly destroyed his life.

“I promised my wife I would stop when she was pregnant,” Mike shared. “And again when my daughter was six months old, I told her I was done. But I couldn’t stop.” Eventually, the truth caught up to him. The state came knocking after a complaint, asking him to take a drug test. “The jig was up,” he said. “I loved my daughter. I loved my family. But I had to face the horrible truth that I loved alcohol and drugs more.”

That was the moment everything changed. For Mike, hitting rock bottom wasn’t the end - it was the beginning.

After trying several treatment programs, Mike finally found lasting recovery at Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic, a place that offered him both structure and compassion. “I’ve been to many facilities,” he said. “The one that helped me the most - the one that helped me get my daughter back - was Carrier Clinic.”

What made the difference for Mike wasn’t just the treatment itself but the people and the setting. “The staff just understand what an addict and alcoholic go through,” he explained. “They meet you where you are, without judgement.”

Carrier’s inpatient detox and rehabilitation program gave MIke the tools he needed to begin again. Located on a scenic, peaceful campus in Belle Mead, surrounded by farmland and trees, it offered an environment of calm and healing - a space where recovery felt possible.

“I had the most support I”ve ever had there,” he said. “Hands down, more than anywhere else.”

That support helped him rebuild his life from the ground up. Through structured therapy and group counseling, he learned how to manage cravings, rebuild trust and restore relationships. Slowly, he began to piece together the life addiction had taken from him.

“Early on, I got my daughter back,” Mike said. “She’s my world. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Carrier Clinic.”

Today, Mike lives a full life in recovery. He works, spends time with his daughter and supports others on their own journeys to sobriety. His story is a testament to what’s possible when someone finds the right help and when they’re ready to take that first step.

Click to watch Mike’s powerful story of hope and healing.

Addiction can happen to anyone. It doesn’t discriminate by age, background or circumstance. But recovery can happen to anyone too. Mike’s story reminds us that no matter how far gone things may seem, change is within reach.

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, know that freedom from addiction is possible. Learn more about Carrier Clinic and how they can help you or your loved one find a path forward. Call 866-266-1616 to speak with our Addiction Admissions Experts 24/7.

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