National Recovery Month Week 5 | Paul Smith's Story

National Recovery Month Week 5 | Paul Smith's Story

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation on Airing Addiction shares Paul Smith’s journey from alcohol use in his teens to becoming Program Director of Massachusetts Young People in Recovery (MyPiR), and it’s packed with real talk about belonging, timing and building community.

Hosted by Lisa Blanchard and Jesse Chaison, the episode blends personal storytelling with practical detail, aimed at people in or curious about recovery, their families, and professionals who want to understand how peer support actually works day to day. Paul talks openly about growing up in Quincy, feeling “a little bit different”, and how alcohol quickly became his shortcut to feeling included.

He traces the gradual slide from social drinking to isolation, job losses and a stalled 20s, before the pandemic created a rare pause: a moment where, as he puts it, “If not now, when?” You’ll hear how a stay at Spectrum in Westborough and a structured sober living home became the launchpad for change.

Paul stresses simple but powerful habits like making his bed, keeping his word and, crucially, telling the truth: “It’s hard to understate how much telling the truth made a difference in my life.” From there, the episode shifts into how MyPiR works.

Think of it as a “recovery centre on wheels”, meeting young adults where they already are – from disc golf courses to boxing gyms – and helping them ask, “What’s missing from your recovery?” Paul shares how zip lining trips, corn mazes, game nights and new groups like SMART Recovery or Recovery Dharma can become serious lifelines, especially for those who don’t see themselves in traditional settings.

If you’ve ever felt like the only young person in the room, or you support someone who does, this chat offers a fresh look at how community can form in the least expected places. What could your own version of that disc golf course be?