From Transcend:
The story of Mike Devlin is not new, but it’s a story that most male addicts and men in recovery can relate to.
Mike’s addiction started in high school. As an athlete who had experienced a few injuries, he was prescribed painkillers and that’s how it all began. Painkillers eventually led to heroin to cocaine and to the regular use of alcohol. And those drugs made him feel good about himself. He felt strong, intelligent, and more a part of his circle of friends. Rather than feeling unaccepted or ashamed, drugs made him feel like a man.
By the time he got to college, he was living a double life. He was using and selling drugs while away in college, but when he returned home, he was keeping it all undercover.
When Mike was 24, he admits that he didn’t know who he was. Although he had moments of making a move towards sober living, he continued to use. Although he wanted to clean up his life, he continued to sell drugs. Although he wanted to believe the part of him that wanted to participate in a sober living program, and finally be done with drugs, there was another part of himself that said, “Well, if I get off opiates, I can still drink.” Or, “well, if I get off cocaine, I can still smoke marijuana.”