Addiction Can Happen to Anyone...But So Can Recovery

Addiction doesn’t always look how we expect.

Nick Casarona is the Director of Treatment Services at Mirror, Inc., one of Kansas’ largest nonprofit substance use treatment providers, and also on the board of PARS Topeka. He never imagined he’d end up working in recovery, let alone leading having the career he does today. But his own experience with addiction, pain, and healing is what makes his story so powerful. And it all starts with a seemingly perfect life.

“I grew up here in Topeka, had a loving, wholesome family, loving and caring parents…and siblings that were all on the right path,” Nick recalls. “I was athletic and played sports. I had a lot of friends. I was popular for whatever reason. As far as actual substance use, I don’t know that was [that far] outside the norm of my peer group. I drank in high school at parties on the weekend. I can’t even say I started because of peer pressure. I did start because of acceptance and everyone else seemed to be doing it.”

Looking for a place where Nick belonged, a place he felt accepted by his peers, is a strong theme in his story on this recovery journey. For Nick, he constantly looked for opportunities where he was always needed, always accepted by others.

“I always lived in this kind of facade of being the strong one, being the leader,” Nick says. “A lot of those character traits I used as kind of an armor to hide the insecurities and that lack of self-acceptance, the lack of self-confidence. But I look back now through recovery, and I can see that some of those traits are the makeup that played a major role in my addiction.”

Despite his solid foundation at home, his teenage years were marked with struggles. Nick went through the trauma of losing close friends to suicide during high school. And, after a devastating neck injury while in training camp, Nick was sent into a spiral. As his need for acceptance from others deepened, so did his addiction. What began as recreational use soon turned into dependence, then full blown addiction.

“I still can’t move my neck,” he says. “Had the halo and multiple surgeries.”

Still, Nick’s story isn’t just about addiction—it’s about what happens after. He has more than enough experience in knowing how family can play a strong role in how one might begin to tackle addiction or start walking down the path of recovery. Nick has also mentioned how long his journey has been before finally being able to find the strength to stand against addiction. It wasn’t until he was 41 that he was truly able to look back and see all the damage he had unintentionally inflicted on his life. 

“Life’s tough, and so not in a blatantly harsh way,” Nick says. “There was a lot of underlying stigma. That belief that people who are alcoholics or drug addicts need to make better decisions, and people that have mental illness just need to toughen up hard.”

The power of stigma, the presumptions and thoughts of others, can be very powerful and effect anyone. While for many a circle of friends can offer real support, sometimes the individuals one centers themselves around can also unintentionally prevent them from being honest with themselves. In Nick’s case, his circle made it more difficult to open up to no fault of their own.

“If I show that I’m crumbling, then what does that look like?” Nick said. “People might not accept me and people might not look at me the same. So, I built this armor around me, the façade, of me always being really strong, when really I was crumbling inside.”

While Nick’s journey has been decades in the making, today, he uses his lived experience to lead, support and advocate for others on the path to recovery. At Mirror, Inc., he helps ensure others have access to the support systems he never had.

Nick’s story holds many powerful layers, and we’ll continue to explore different parts of his journey in the weeks to come. But for now, here are a few reflections to help us start shifting the conversation and dismantling the stigma that still surrounds our community.

Take Action: Support Recovery for Everyone

• Foster Empathy by Listening Without Judgment: Reach out to someone who may be struggling and offer a non-judgmental ear.
• Educate Yourself and Others About Addiction’s Complexity: Understand that addiction affects people from all backgrounds and often stems from deeper emotional pain.
• Create Safe Spaces in Your Community: Help develop or promote support groups where people from all walks of life can share their stories and find connection.
• Encourage Early Support and Intervention: Recognize signs of emotional pain or substance use in your circles and encourage seeking help early.
• Volunteer as a Mentor or Peer Support: Your lived experience or simply your willingness to be there can help someone feel accepted and understood.

Nick wants to tell his story to help others not follow in his footsteps. To share your story and add your voice to “Human: A Project by PARS Topeka,” contact PARS at (785) 266-8666 or info@parstopeka.org.