My husband was an addict, ended up homeless , living on the streets . He turned it around. He went off to live in a tiny caravan in the countryside on his own to get away from the people and lifestyle. After getting through the sickness he slowly rebuilt his life . We are now in our late 50s we have a house, good relationships with our (now adult) kids and our families. It is possible mate , you can do it - you are very similar to my husband , I really believe you can. Your goals are attainable, not easy but they are possible.

The simple fact you stood up to hug him... Was maybe the kindest and most sincere reaction this young man could have got. Brought tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.

Please Mark, I would love to see a follow up on him! I think many of us would like that! I just have a feeling this guy might actually be able to turn it around and be proud of himself again. Not saying he will quit totally, not saying he wont. But I think this guy has the ability to find out what he has to do in order for him to be a dad that is around for his kids. His story will be a wisdom for his kids to take with them! That is worth GOLD for kids who otherwise would have a childhood and future without a dad. I totally belive in this guy!

I escaped the fentanyl trap a few years back. I commend this man. Admitting who you really are and accepting it is THE FIRST STEP.

I really enjoyed this episode. He is so self aware, educated, intelligent and easy to listen to. From one addict to another, (I've been in recovery for 9 years from the real hard stuff) I hope you are able to get your shit together and turn your life around. I'm rooting for you Mike.

I have a good feeling him doing this interview will get things rolling. Enjoyed this one, we need an update!!! What an amazing man. YOU are not too far gone! 💙💙💙

I really, really like this guy. The gentle, spiritual nature of him is trying so hard to get through and I really believe it will one day. This interview is ironically also gonna help that happen I think… Good luck Brother & God bless. Thanks for bringing us these videos Mark, you really ARE making a difference ❤️

His talk around 15min was gnarly I never wanted someone to succeed more and get clean on the channel. You got it dude

Mike has so much potential he's such an honest man, I hope he gets clean and back with his kids.

He's so honest in his confession. I am recovering and it is excruciating.

I got Clean/Sober Saturday May 19th 2012. I still struggle with food addiction. My daughter is 19 years old; she told me about this KZfaq channel. My top 3 fav interviews are this one, the Soldier (with the face tattoo above his eyebrow) & the Black Hat Hacker (parts 1 & 2). Mark is a phenomenal, Custodian of Humanity. I love my Sobriety/Recovery, my daughter, my dog (Parker “Parkey” Park-Carlock) & finding & collecting four leaf clovers in the woods. -truly, Thank you Mark, for your Work, for your Service, for your Art. Genuinely Yours, Amy E. [Raöm] Carlock

Every interview Mark does? Makes me appreciate my sobriety ( 3.8 years clean after 30+ years hardcore junkie/ incarcerated etc) even more. ..hope this dude can get ok. He's intelligent. ..tuff road ahead. Not ez .but where there's life there's hope. Godspeed man..

I see so much hope in Michael. He is so smart and owns his own shit. He doesn’t try to place blame anywhere other than on his own choices. He knows what he needs to do and I believe he can do it. Michael , if you’re reading this, you are in my thoughts and prayers and I really hope you find your way out of the addiction and can stay clean. ❤️

This is the most sympathetic person I've listened to on the series. Just goes to show addiction has no boundaries.

Deep down inside, Mike is not a bad guy. Addiction has stolen the best of him, and I wish him all the best. Mike does have a chance at turning himself around.

He explains addiction so beautifully. Being an addict is a full-time job. It takes everything and makes you into a person that nobody likes. And when you're finally at your lowest...you can't even do enough dope to take yourself out of the game. And you find yourself with no help or support, because you've burned everybody, and no idea how to begin to pull yourself up out of the dark hole you've put yourself in. Moving away and landing the job I always wanted gave me the push I needed to start turning life around.

Micheal reminds me of my brother who is 44. He went on the exact same path. My son misses his Uncle so much. My brother has a PHD from UCI, he is so so smart. He is in the exact same place as this man. He has lost everything from fentanyl. His existence is just feeding his habit. I wish so much for more help for these people. I hope that someone, somewhere realizes that this crisis needs resources. So many people need help from this awful drug.

"I don't give up the thing I hate doing for the things I love". Thanks for giving him a hug Mark...x.

"They miss the real Michael"...that really resonated with me. My family has told me the same things recently, and it really makes me feel horrible and stuck. People change with life's circumstances, but some people expect us to be the same all thru life. Our kids are the only ones we owe anything to...

Having ADHD and seeing my kids that have ADHD, this interview hit deep. The addictive nature of ADHD is hard to satisfy, and this is a mental situation that must be better understood. It's chilling to realize that his down spiral never stopped after he got pain killers after he broke his leg. Mike, I hope you read this. We believe in you, and you can do this! Your kids love you, and it's over abundantly clear that you adore them.

This is one of the hardest,heartbreaking videos to watch. The way he talks about himself and his struggels made me want to reach out and give him a hug- and seeing you Mark do that at the end of the video made me cry. I wish and pray he overcomes his addiction and have a quite and simple life with his loved ones.

Ohhh, this guy got to you, Mark. I can tell. You must have seen yourself in him. Despite being in law enforcement, Ive seen myself in a few of your interviewees. When I broke my back on duty in ‘04 I had the advantage of seeing the pill mill/opiate addictions caused by massive overprescribing & little oversight up close. When I was injured, I’d had enough cases involving Oxy to know it wasn’t harmless. I still am infuriated to this day that the pharma executives willfully & with knowledge pushed opiates onto sales reps who gave kick backs to docs, who prescribed them many times to those who would otherwise never get involved in drugs. My desperation to get out of pain led me down a dark path of taking other painkillers too much, but thankfully I was found out in time. Ive always been humble but I am humbled now even more. Watching your interviews reminds me of work & the background for many people I encounter. You are shining a light on people who are have pushed into the shadows with free range homeless policies. Its not fair to these people. Oh & STAY SAFE!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Praying for your recovery Mike. You are strong!🦋

I think this is almost the most regret i've expressed from somebody in one of these interviews.. the fact he was so honest and clearly so upset about knowing he'd spend his money on drugs over his kids bday presents is really candid. I'm sure plenty of people in addiction would end up doing that, but his expressions really showed how much he hated himself for it =(

I love this guy. I battled opiates for a few years but was able to get off with the help of Kratom, now I got my CDL and I’m about to ask my girlfriend to marry me. I wish the best for him would love to see him succeed, bro has a great heart - much love buddy

Great interview. I can really relate to Mike. Had a great upbringing with educated and intelligent parents. I also have a degree and get a second one right now but i fell hard on heroin. Been addicted since 2013 and are finally free from it. You can do it as well Mike. I believe in you and you have the potential to do something productive instead.

It's one of those raw, honest stories about addiction and the cycle of not being able to break it. The greatest gift Mike could give his children is drug rehab and to himself the realization that sadness, futility is not only part of our lives, but can also become a path of realization and awareness. It's a sour but healing pill, so it's worth swallowing…

Honest transparency extreme. That's the finest explanation of the WHY you'll ever hear. Magnificent and astounding. This interview deserves an award... Excellent.. Spectacular

Users are not the only victims, sadly their families and kids suffer tremendously because of an addiction they have nothing to do with.

Mark you’re fuking amazing!!! He really needed to hear a lot of what you said and the hug would have made him felt a minuscule amount of love- this is where healing starts. Well done.

Mike you remind me of my son. He is struggling with the same addiction. I too am raising my grandson. Thank you for sharing your story. I pray for you to somehow overcome your addiction. 😢🙏

I feel like this one hit different for Mark and here's why? Of all the interviews he's done, all the compassion he's felt for folks, this guy is like Mark getting chance to interview addicted Mark. He's staring himself right in the face. Incredibly introspective.

As a parent, seeing this man hurt for his children really pained me. To know how much we love our children but admit the hold his addiction has on him speaks volumes to the potency of this horrific drug. This one will stick with me for a while and I pray he finds the peace he deserves and that his children know how loved they are.

Fentanyl was the final nail in the coffin of my longest relationship, and it was close to ruining a lot more before I decided it was time to stop. I still rely on suboxone to keep withdrawals and cravings away but I take a very small amount and it has been a godsend. I hope to eventually not rely on it either, but at least I can still function as needed and support myself.

I was on the verge of crying for much of this interview. Such a smart and nice and genuine guy. Super likable. Drugs lead to addiction, sleeping in a carport storage, theft, missing events, losing your kids, family abandoning you, jail, loss of work privileges, feeling like shit, poverty, depression. Drugs. It's a downward path. I hope he can get off them and reconnect with family and feel good about making his way in life. Top 10 for me, Mark. You are a good man. Keep interviewing so people can have a safe space to talk.

Boy...this guy pulled on my heart strings big time. I can absolutely relate to his story. I've lost everything as well, I'm just now starting to rebuild. It is possible. Coming from a childhood with no physical or sexual abuse really puts us in a category where starting over isn't as difficult as it is for someone who uses to mask all the pain from childhood trauma. My experience has been that no matter where our addictions have taken us, our kids still love us and just want their mom/dad back. It's never too late.

Such a handsome intelligent and well-spoken gentleman. He is going to be a great addiction specialist When he gets sober. I just have a feeling deep down that he will. How do people send him letters and/or packages?

When I look at you Mike, I see the “old” Mike way before seeing the addict or criminal. You’re still in there, inside the addict wanting to escape. Think of how hard your day to day has become; hustling for money, chasing the high….. you can do the withdrawal. Short term pain for long term gain. Your daily life now is must be harder and darker than withdrawal. It sounds like you have a good family, reach out and I’m confident you can come through this. Be safe and stay you.

What a precious soul! He is aware of his poor choices on a conscious level. I have hope for him.

His description of addiction is by far the most spot on I've ever heard.

This was a tear jerker. I have 9 years sober. I was in a bad bad place. You can do it brother. Fight that demon.

"I don't steal from people, I steal from stores" This level of denial is astounding.

This is why I'm so afraid of the pain killers that I need for my chronic back pain, I don't want this life. I hope he can find help, heal, and take his life back.

It’s amazing the insight he has on himself and speaks the raw truth not trying to hide anything or sugar coat it. but shows the power addiction has over you it can and will take everything. I believe he can turn back he just needs someone to care and motivation I believe he truly wants help and wants to get clean he just needs someone to help push him and keep him on track through the depression and rebuilding process

At least he’s not making any excuses. I pray he gets the help he needs. Thanks for the hug Mike

My daughter died at 21 wanting nothing more than to help others :(

I can feel you Mike. We - ADHDrs are very sensitive and the emotions we don’t know how to often express are killing from the inside

He has truly explained opiate addiction inside n out. Everything yal just heard take note please! We hate this drug to death!! But our mind detours us to keep using because we don't want to go through excruciating pain. God bless this man I hope he can beat the addiction one day.

goes to show once more how hard addiction is this guy understands completely that its taking his whole life away and still he cant put it down

We are all a few pay checks away from being homeless whether on drugs or not , I imagine being in addiction is draining, he seems like an intelligent kind guy , I really hope he gets his life back together, very compassionate interview Mark …

What a sweetheart, heartbreaking story ! I truly hope life gets better for him soon

We can and DO recover. Thank you for your work, Mark.

Seems like such a smart genuine man. Would love to see an update video on him in the future. Definitely has a bright future if he can get started with recovery!

Thanks Mark!!! He's right about treating your hobbies and everything us addicts do, we abuse everything we touch! But when you get clean or on the road to recovery, I have found art/hobbies have been an absolute lifesaver! Your joy for life will return, it just takes awhile, unfortunately, but it does return, I promise!

Art work has saved my life many times! I am schizophrenic and art/drawing has kept me from suicide many times. I don't share it with people and it is all mine...its from my head and my heart. My big dream is to have an organization that provides 'kits' to people who are struggling of drawing supplies or other interests like everything you would need to watercolor including paper and a palette or even paint by numbers for adults. I have already started collecting art supplies but my mental health hasn't allowed me to move much further, yet. Hearing your story makes me think my dream would be positive and good. Best of luck to you, Mike. You seem like an incredibly intelligent and capable guy...you still have everything you need to get to the other side of this!

"my goal is to become someone my kids can look up to". mike, I don't think you are gone at all. I saw your spirit shine through the entire interview. I think you can live that life you want. you can be the person you want to be because you already are. its in there. I can see it, I can feel it. all of us are rooting for you.

He admits he has a problem and actually hates the drug it's self so he's already halfway there. If this dude can stay clean long enough to actually kick the habit he could be a great role model and prime example on wasted potential to the younger addicts!!!! Would be easier for him if his own family believed in him but as he said he's brought it on himself. Only 1 person can fix this dude and I hope he does coz he seems genuine !!!!

My heart aches for this man! It’s easy to see how much this man wants to change but it’s not that easy. I do hope he finds peace and can get sober. I am rooting for you, Mike.

My dad overdosed when he was 27, I was 9 and It's rough, coincidentally also named Michael. If not for yourself, get clean for your kids. It'll be mean more than the world in the long run, You've got this MIke

What a lovely man you are Mike! I hope you get the right help you need. 🕉. You’re not a loser..far from it. Never think that please. Mark, you’re a good man!

Dang. I’m not sure I’ve ever listened to someone this ready to turn it around. His body is the addict. His mind recognizes rock bottom. It’s sad to hear other homeless addicts, but this dude is aware enough to see the forest through the trees. As with nearly everyone you interview, I really hope he’s up to the task of being clean and being the dad/son that he yearns to be again.

God, I sure wish this guy pulls through. He reminded me of Patrick, the first interview I heard on Soft White Underbelly. Thank you Mark for showing the people Society would rather just forget.

His clarity & accountability compared to other addicts you have interviewed is both startling & heartbreaking.

That hug at the end was the sweetest thing I've seen. Thanks Mark!

Mike, seems like you are not completely lost. It'd never too late to get your life back or start a new chapter. Mark, help this man.

I feel for you Mike. It's obvious you're a good person who's been taken over by something you can't control.

This made me cry. I could feel this man's pain. I came from a family of two complete opposite parents. I'd be doing cocaine with my mother on a Saturday while with her and be sitting in the church pew next to my dad Sunday morning after a night of no sleep. I was 15 during that time. My addiction led me straight to hell. I was poly-addicted by 20. I'm 36 now. I have 10 yrs clean. I remember feeling EXACTLY like Mike. So desperate to want to get better but so utterly controlled and sick that I just couldn't stop. Toward the end, I would look at myself in the mirror while shooting whatever drug I was doing and literally cry bc I didn't want to do what I was doing anymore. I wanted to die more than I wanted to get high. I would pray the dope I was shooting would be the last shot. I prayed I wouldn't wake up from a nod. I went through years of jails and institutions. I finally did it for myself without force from anyone. May 23, 2012. That's my clean date. At the time I didn't even know it was my birthday. If I can do it, I know for sure Mike can. That hug was EVERYTHING. I remember needing someone to hug me. I would have given anything for a hug and for someone to tell me I was worth it. Thanks for treating the ppl you interview (US- the addict, mental health victim, abuse victim, ect...) like human beings. That alone can ignite the spark someone needs to grow the fire for recovery! Lots of love Mike! You got this my man!

Thank you Mark for posting.

This was heartbreaking. Mike, nothing can ever diminish the light that you are at centre, no matter how bad it seems on the periphery. I hope things will get better for you and you will be reunited with your children. My sincere love goes out to you! And thank you Mark for these videos and these stories of our brothers and sisters who need to be heard. Thank you for giving them and us the opportunity to deepen our awareness and love for one another.

Mike, I pray you find the help that you need and can get off the drugs. My ADHD has caused me a lifetime of regrets. I hope you can do it for not only yourself, but your kids and Loved ones. This world needs all the GOOD PEOPLE it can get, and Mike---- you are GOOD PEOPLE whether you realize it or not. Come back to LIFE !!! Sending LOVE your way brother ❤️

I understand so many people post comments here, so its hard to get a response. However Mark or whoever, if anyone has a way of contacting Mike via social Media or any other way, I would like to contact him. I feel my path is very similar to his. With the exception being that I am also 40, but coming up in October I will have been clean for 10 years. I know some people in the recovery community in Southern California. I’d love to at least try to help. For those of us in recovery it helps bolster our own situation in to be to service of others.

This interview got me. My boyfriend of 14 years was an addict for 5 years, he stopped using in 2020 but has been on suboxone since and trying to get off that. Great career in construction, family man, good guy!!

They always want to help others. They don't realize that they're broken and don't have the tools to help someone struggling like themselves.

This is a good dude with a bad problem - I wish him the best of luck.

Amazing interview and I'm touched by not only his truth but Marks kindness at end with s well deserved hug!!!!! Would love to continue to see update on him and I hope he is able to get out of this...wonderful man and I would never see u as a looser, maybe ur daughter wouldn't either if she really understood and saw what I just saw...lost soul trying.....

One of the saddest bottom line statements I ever heard was "Jails.. Are FULL of unrealized potentials" .. And this guy HAS that in Abundance! I wish that he could have gone from jail DIRECTLY into a Quality treatment program for 90+..... Like the participants on Intervention go to... And see if he could Reeeeeallyyy have a chance at Recovery... Prayers to him... His kids and ALLLLL his family. His Honesty sounded like it was speaking directly from the heart... Mark, always, I am a Huge fan. Good Luck and prayers for an intervention to Recovery to Mike... ♥️🙏 Love and prayers.. Tara 🇨🇦 PS.... We'll need an Update on this one!!!!

The true empathy that MARK showed w a hug says it all!!!!! MICHAEL you are right there your words say it all- Desperation is the first step to recovery- please seek rehab & sober living. One day one building block at a time…❤️

You’re helping people right now! Thank you for sharing your story and the honestly is so appreciated. I truly believe you will get to the other side of your addictions❤️sending love and light ✨

I was on fentanyl for three years for a cancer that was supposed to kill me. I got myself off of it before the doctor weened myself off because I beat the cancer and I'm 5 years cancer and fentanyl free now no relapses. In three years it destroyed all my teeth. I was so scared and it wasn't easy. The cancer came out of nowhere and I had just turned 40. Never did street drugs or smoke. Yes, it can happen to anyone.

I have watched a ton of videos on your channel and Mike's story is by far one of the most impactful that I've heard. He really is a true example of how addiction doesn't discriminate and it can take hold of anyone regardless of your positive upbringing, financial success and education level. This is a man who truly wants to get better and I genuinely hope one day he has the social supports, love and confidence to believe he can get clean and that not all is lost. Wishing the very best for you, Mike.

I can tell he’s a genuinely good guy. I really hope he gets better

Such a common story. Doctors get you hooked on some drug and then cut you off too quick, and with zero help. They always help folks get hooked. The minute they have to help you get unhooked, you're placed into a different bucket, treated differently, and many times people don't have the insurance, and/or the resources aren't available to help go the other way. Sorry to hear they did this to you as well. I hope you can find the other side of this. Cheers.

I have never commented on any of these stories, but this guy- wow! I can feel his sincerity and pain. Wishing him his dream, to turn it around xxxx

Such a gentle soul. Something I have learned from struggling with alcohol myself is that it’s been my way of taking care of myself. Those painful emotions, self hate and childhood trauma it’s all connected. Learning to take care of yourself in a new way without the drugs is so so hard but it can be done. Baby steps and becoming your own parent, find a new way to take care of yourself. Sending much love ❤️

Been sober 4 years. Took me the first year to get over the withdrawal and depression but now my life is better than ever. You can do it brother!

As the parent of a decades long addict, I've lived the opposite side of this spectrum with the children involved. I finally gave up expectations in the name of self preservation. It's all a choice. Yours, mine, theirs.

This guy’s insight is amazing. I can imagine it’s very painful because he totally sees how he got here, why he’s still in active addiction, and all the bad shit that goes with it. Praying for you brother. It may take a few times but I think you can do it. You can get clean and stay that way…..one minute at a time, one hour at a time, and soon one day at a time. Much love to you.

Such an structured, entillegent, full of emotions person! I wish from the bottom of my heart that he finds the strength to get in his life what he really deserves.

I'm recently diagnosed in my 30s, and I too see a huge connection between ADHD and many of the problems people on this channel deal with. It can be a devastating disorder, especially when it isn't noticed while people are young.

One of my favorite interviews by Mark. He is so genuine & honest. A lot of the interview Ive seen the addicts walk away from their children & never look back. You can tell he really loves his kids. I hope he gets on the right track. Id love to see an update on him.

As often happens when I watch these interviews, i'm in tears by the end. This was so moviing and I hope that Mike is able to anchor in the things he loves, the people he loves, especially his children, and detox fully from the drugss, because I can sense that he has so much to give. I'll be looking forward to an update when he can share his progress.

We're rooting for you, Mike. Any addict who has the fortitude and character to do what you do to get gifts to your children, has the inner strength to destroy the hold that drug has on you.

If he can get the help with mental health he needs, he will become a success. Very intelligent. I hope for the best for him and his children. I hope he can have a relationship with them someday.

He lost me at claiming Fentanyl doesn’t help people who are really sick. It helps terminally ill people. Fentanyl is NOT the problem. His addiction IS the problem. I pray he finds the strength to get sober and clean for the sake of his children.

What a sweet soul. I feel his gentle kindness through the screen and it brings tears to the eye. I have faith that with the proper support, mental health support and self love he could make it through. I see this for you and I’m wishing You peace and happiness

There are 5 steps to making change: - precontemplation - contemplation - preperation - action - maintenance Micheal is at step 2, and that's great! I was at step 2 for 10 years, and that is WAY better than step 1. Realize you are not giving anything up, but only gaining your freedom. Good luck

This story and others should be shown in prime time by all outlets, we MUST go to war against this drug

This was a good one, I’ve got 9 months. So much relatable pain, he speaks for a lot of people I’m sure.

What a honest man. I really hope he gets it figured out. Seems like a really genuine person.

mark that was a terrific interview, mike was so honest real and raw, Mark ,thanks for your transperancy, you know if you give up detox rehab, and give yourself a couple of years, in a secure safe environment,away from where you are, you can get the old Mike back, and you have alot to 9ffer the world and your kids, go for it!!! move ahead!!! don't stop!!! It Works If You Work At It from New Zealand🙏