Scars of Addiction with Matt Miller

Scars of Addiction with Matt Miller

Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of survival, addiction and sober living, as this episode of *I Love Being Sober* centres on Matt Miller’s remarkable story. The show, hosted by Tim Westbrook, is geared towards people struggling with addiction, their families, and anyone curious about what long-term recovery can look like in everyday life.

Matt’s background sounds like something out of a sports film – star athlete, popular kid, successful investment adviser – until a catastrophic fall on Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba changed everything. He and his dad survived a 3,000-foot fall, but Matt woke up facing frostbite, major surgery, and the loss of most of his fingers and toes.

As one doctor bluntly predicted, “When he wakes up from all this, he’s going to be a drug addict,” and Matt openly admits that heavy pain medication and later tramadol and meth became his way of coping with trauma, insecurity, and a shattered identity. You’ll hear how long-term opiate use, secret withdrawals in hotel rooms, and finally a meth-fuelled collapse cost him his career, his house and nearly his relationship with his parents.

The turning point comes when he surrenders, heads to Prescott House, and throws himself into meetings, therapy, and the 12 steps. He talks about the power of male friendship in recovery, learning to accept his hands as a “gift,” and the way community and service – like handing out meals downtown – help keep him connected and sober.

The tone stays honest and down-to-earth, mixing intense moments with small, human details like that first cup of coffee in hospital that shifted his whole sense of gratitude. If you’re looking for a candid story that shows how bad it can get and how meaningful life can become on the other side of addiction, this episode is well worth your time. What part of Matt’s journey feels most relatable to you?