Michael was born in Italy, and shortly after his parents separated, he moved to New Jersey with his mother, where he went to school up until Junior High. He then moved to Orange County to live with his father where he was introduced to marijuana and instantly started living the stoner lifestyle. After dabbling in drugs like coke, ecstasy, mushrooms etc., he eventually got hooked on painkillers and heroin for many years to where he supported himself and his habit as a drug dealer. After being introduced to countless rehabs, he quit heroin, only to get addicted to methamphetamine. This started a cycle of countless incarcerations and trips to the psych ward, hospitals, living on the street, etc., until he decided to quit meth and then became heavily addicted to Xanax and other benzos. He drank alcoholically during the end of his active addiction. After 9 treatment centers Michael finally decided to surrender to the program of AA, and has been able to stay sober for 6 years working the 12 steps and strengthening his relationship to God, his higher power. During this time, he has finished his Bachelor’s and earned his Master’s in psychology, and is a certified alcohol and drug counselor working with various treatment centers as a group facilitator in the OC, LA areas.