Mike was introduced to alcohol by his older siblings and their friends at a party, and he fell in love. From there, it was on to illegally prescribed pills, until Mike’s addiction almost destroyed his liver and brought him to the brink of death.

Mike got clean, but he relapsed after 14 years. He’s in recovery again today, and he shares his experience, including his daily mantra: There’s only one drug you can’t do: The first one.