246 Odyssey House Journals - Mike

246 Odyssey House Journals - Mike

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation with Mike on Odyssey House Journals offers a blunt, no-frills answer. Host Randall Carlisle and co-host Jackie Buckman sit down with Mike, who started using pain pills as a shy 16-year-old motocross racer after repeated injuries. What began as prescribed medication for shattered bones turned into street oxycodone, then heroin, and eventually anything he could fit into a needle.

Mike says, “I’ve probably overdosed easily over 20 times,” describing cardiac arrest, months in hospital, and waking up more dependent than when he went in. The episode speaks directly to people dealing with opioid addiction and families trying to understand why “almost dying” doesn’t automatically make someone stop. Mike explains that he didn’t want to die, but he was “okay with that outcome,” stuck in a dark place where withdrawal, sleepless nights and restless legs made getting “well” feel essential.

That example became a turning point: “I just wanted more for my life… I’m still young enough that I can make changes.” After years in and out of jail and a recent prison stay, he chose treatment instead of straight-to-sober-living, taking things slower this time and embracing “radical acceptance.” Jackie, a social worker in recovery herself, breaks down how addiction rewires the brain to scream “I need this or I’ll die,” and challenges the idea that using actually solves problems: is it removing the pain or just postponing it and stacking up more?

There’s a strong focus on family history too. Both Mike’s parents struggled with addiction, but his dad has been clean for 20 years. Together, they show how life can improve when the chaos stops, while still being honest that sober life brings its own hard knocks. If you or someone you love feels stuck between another fix and another chance, Mike’s 17 months of sobriety might prompt you to ask: what could “enough is enough” look like for you?