From Miami Coke to Ohio Heroin — How He Finally Got Clean | Ep 158

In this episode of Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Michael Larkin to unpack a story that starts in the heat and chaos of Miami and winds its way through addiction, consequences, and ultimately, recovery.Michael takes us back to his early years growing up in Miami, where experimenting started young—first with weed, then quickly escalating into harder substances. He shares what it was like walking into something as normal as an English class while high on cocaine, and how fast that lifestyle became normalized. What begins as curiosity turns into patterns, including getting caught with weed at school and already brushing up against consequences at a young age.One of the standout moments comes when Michael talks about being left alone while his family went on vacation—what should have been freedom quickly turned into something much darker. From there, his journey takes him from Miami to Ohio, where he’s introduced to the drug that would take hold of his life: heroin.Michael opens up about his first time using heroin, the grip it had on him, and the lifestyle that followed. He shares vivid stories from Miami during the early days of his addiction, including catching his first felony charges around the time the McGriddle first dropped—a detail that oddly timestamps one of the lowest points of his life. From fights and warrants to constant run-ins with the law, the chaos only intensified.But the deeper struggle came in the attempts to get clean. Michael speaks honestly about going to rehab not to get better, but still chasing a high. He describes the exhausting cycle of trying—and failing—to stay sober over a two-year stretch, and just how difficult it is to keep going back after relapse. The conversation dives into the mental battle of recovery, the stigma, and the reality of medications like Suboxone.Now on the other side, Michael reflects on where he’s at today and what it really takes to build a life in recovery. His story is raw, unfiltered, and a powerful look at both the darkness of addiction and the possibility of change.If you or someone you know is struggling, this episode is a reminder that even after years of setbacks, there is still a way forward.🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media: Find our TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!Get a Grip Social Media Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcastFor Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:📩 Email: [email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#getagrip #redemptionstory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #addictionrecovery #recoveryjourney #trauma #childhood #oxy #dealer #soberlife #wedorecover #childhoodtrauma #healing #inspiration #awareness #kingpin #trafficking #hustle #opioidcrisis #neardeathexperience #fyp #prison #bar #mistake #change #survivor #survival #tv #television #inspire #parole #officer #school #teacher #students #study #student #changinglives