Breaking Down Addiction

#15: Mathew Dwyer — Service Industry Drinking, Spiritual Surrender & Finding Recovery

Mathew Dwyer’s story is a raw, honest journey through alcohol addiction, service industry drinking culture, relapse, treatment, recovery, spirituality, and service. From Wisconsin barrooms to Nashville restaurants, Mathew spent years hiding his drinking, managing consequences, and convincing himself he had it under control. After pancreatitis, blackouts, job losses, DUIs, and a relapse that led him to treatment during the early days of COVID, Mathew finally found recovery through surrender, community, service, and the rooms of AA. Today, Mathew is sober, active in Nashville’s recovery community, involved with the Log Cabin Group, and helping others find hope before they lose everything. You’ll Hear: • What Mathew would say to himself in active addiction  • How Wisconsin drinking culture shaped his early relationship with alcohol  • Why the service industry can protect and normalize addiction  • The lies he told himself to keep drinking  • How pancreatitis, blackouts, DUIs, and relapse became part of his story  • Why cocaine eventually led him back to alcohol  • What finally made treatment different  • How spirituality, meditation, and service became part of his recovery  • Why the Log Cabin Group has become a powerful recovery community in Nashville  Why Listen: • To hear an honest alcohol recovery story filled with humor, pain, and clarity   • To understand how addiction can hide behind work, personality, and “functioning”   • To learn why half measures often fail   • To see how community and service can help sustain sobriety   • To be reminded that you do not have to lose everything before you stop digging   If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.   To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

#14 Michael Rositano: From OxyContin and Fentanyl to Recovery, Purpose, and Helping Others Heal

Michael Rositano’s story is a powerful journey through grief, opioid addiction, treatment, relapse, jail, recovery, and redemption. After losing his father at age 20, Michael found two bottles of Percocet in the medicine cabinet. What began as a way to numb grief eventually escalated into OxyContin, Opana, fentanyl, theft, legal charges, jail, and multiple treatment stays. Today, Michael works in recovery, helps others find treatment, shares his story through music and service, and reflects honestly on the guilt, pain, humor, and hope that shaped his path. You’ll Hear: • What Michael would say to himself in active addiction: “Just give it up, man” • How losing his father became a turning point • How Percocet, OxyContin, Opana, and fentanyl took over his life • The role of grief, guilt, and untreated mental health • Multiple treatment stays, relapse, drug court, and jail • The SeaWorld moment that became a wake-up call • How Recovery Unplugged helped him rebuild • Why holistic care and therapy mattered in his recovery • How Michael now helps others through recovery work Why Listen: • To hear an honest opioid recovery story filled with pain, humor, and hope • To understand how grief can fuel addiction • To learn why treatment often takes more than one attempt • To see how recovery can lead to purpose, service, and restored relationships • To be reminded that your past does not have to define your future Find Michael at https://youtube.com/@titanuploadnetwork If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

#13 Miko Juvinall: From Discipline to Addiction, Federal Charges, and Finding Freedom

Miko Juvinall’s story is a powerful journey from a disciplined childhood as a competitive gymnast to the chaos of addiction, toxic relationships, and federal charges—ultimately leading to a moment of clarity and the beginning of recovery. Growing up with structure, ambition, and a clear path toward becoming a veterinarian, Miko’s life took a turn in college through partying, alcohol, and eventually methamphetamine use. What began as experimentation quickly escalated into daily use, dangerous environments, and survival-driven decisions. Along the way, she navigated abusive relationships, drug raids, and a years-long fraud scheme that led to federal arrest in 2018. In this episode, Miko shares the moment she realized she had lost control—and how that awareness became the first step toward change. Her story is one of honesty, resilience, and the long road back from addiction. You’ll Hear: • What Miko would say to herself in active addiction: “It will get better—it is possible” • How a disciplined upbringing didn’t prevent addiction—but shaped her recovery • The progression from alcohol to meth and how quickly use escalated • Inside the rave scene and the normalization of drug use • The role of toxic and abusive relationships in deepening addiction • The moment she realized she could not stop using • Drug raids, legal close calls, and living in survival mode • How a multi-year gift card fraud scheme led to federal charges • The arrest that forced her to confront reality for the first time • Early moments of sobriety and the fear, clarity, and turning point they created Why Listen: • To understand how addiction can develop—even in disciplined, high-achieving individuals • To hear an unfiltered story of escalation, denial, and consequences • To gain insight into the mindset of active addiction and survival behaviors • To learn how moments of crisis can become catalysts for change • To be reminded that recovery begins with honesty—and is always possible If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

#12 Jay Booker: “Don’t Give Up” — From Addiction, Incarceration, and Trauma to Recovery, Fatherhood, and Helping Men Heal

Jay Booker’s story is a powerful journey through childhood trauma, family addiction, incarceration, relapse, and the long road to lasting recovery—ultimately leading him to a life of purpose, service, and helping other men heal. Growing up in a home marked by alcoholism, emotional instability, and survival-mode coping, Jay shares how early wounds shaped his self-worth, identity, and addiction. From a promising youth baseball career to juvenile charges, jail time, prison, and years of cycling through drugs, manipulation, and shame, Jay opens up about the choices that nearly cost him everything—and the moment he finally asked for help. Now sober since January 26, 2010, Jay reflects on how recovery became more than just abstinence. Through 12-step work, therapy, breathwork, accountability, and daily practice, he rebuilt his life, became a present father, and turned his pain into purpose. Today, he is helping others through Just Breathe Recovery Community and Triony Behavioral Health, creating safe places for men facing substance use, trauma, anxiety, depression, and failure to launch. You’ll Hear: • Jay’s message to his younger self in active addiction: “Don’t give up” • How growing up around alcoholism, codependency, and emotional abuse shaped his survival patterns • The connection between childhood trauma, low self-worth, and addiction • How drugs, dealing, incarceration, and relapse escalated over time • What finally led him to ask for help and get sober in 2010 • Why recovery requires daily practice, honesty, and leaning into discomfort • The role of breathwork, therapy, 12-step recovery, and spiritual grounding in staying centered • Why men’s mental health needs more attention, compassion, and real support • How Jay is helping build better pathways for men through MAT-friendly housing and behavioral health care • Encouragement for parents and families trying to help a loved one take the first step Why Listen: • To hear an honest recovery story that includes trauma, incarceration, relapse, and redemption • To better understand how addiction often begins long before substance use • To learn why asking for help can change everything • To hear how recovery can lead to purpose, fatherhood, leadership, and healing • To understand the need for more compassionate support for men facing mental health and substance use challenges • To be reminded that your past does not have to define your future If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com/ To learn more about Jay Booker’s work, visit https://justbreatherecovery.com and https://trionybehavioralhealth.com/

#11 Tyler Bowman: “You’re Never Too Broken to Be Fixed” - From Addiction to Building Brooks Healing Center

Tyler Bowman’s story is a candid journey through family disruption, early addiction patterns, relapse cycles, and the long road to lasting recovery—ultimately leading to purpose, faith, and building a treatment culture centered on doing “the next right thing.” Growing up as an only child navigating his parents’ divorce, Tyler describes how early emotional wounds shaped later relationship patterns—and how “the behaviors start before the actual substance starts.” His addiction escalated from alcohol and marijuana to Adderall and pain pills, eventually turning into heroin and multiple overdoses. Along the way: legal charges, repeated treatment attempts, and the hard-earned realization that recovery requires both willingness and consistency. Now in long-term recovery, Tyler shares how he rebuilt his life, navigated profound loss, and helped launch Brooks Healing Center in Normandy, Tennessee—turning a vision formed during COVID into a mission-driven program rooted in culture, accountability, and care. You’ll Hear: * “You are enough”—and how shame fuels addiction * Why addiction patterns begin before substances do * The shift from “getting high” to “feeling normal” * Relapse, rigidity, and learning how to stay spiritually and emotionally healthy * How grief, fatherhood, and faith reshaped Tyler’s recovery * The origin story of Brooks Healing Center—and what makes its culture different * Practical advice for families holding boundaries—and for individuals ready to take the first step Why Listen: * To understand the emotional roots that often precede substance use * To hear an honest recovery story that includes relapse, loss, and rebuilding * To learn what sustainable recovery looks like at 10+ years sober * To hear how purpose and community can reshape identity after addiction * To be reminded: “You’re never too broken to be fixed.” If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.  To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com/ Find Tyler and learn about Brooks Healing Center at www.brookshealingcenter.com