Chuck Novak’s life hasn’t always been easy.  A substance use problem led to five years in prison.  While incarcerated, Chuck decided to use his time to change his life for the better.  He earned a paralegal certificate and started on a path to recovery.  Today, Chuck is a Master Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor and a SMART Recovery Regional Coordinator in New Hampshire. 

 

In this podcast, Chuck talks about:

• His experiences with addiction and being incarcerated
• How simple decisions were difficult after being released
• Changing the vocabulary for returning citizens
• How he became interested in becoming a counselor
• Using SMART tools within the tools during his meetings
• The role of regional coordinators is morphing
• Implementing “Operation Bed Bug”
• How the InsideOut: A SMART Recovery Correctional Program® aligns with the Federal Bureau of Prisons programing
• Consulting for the Drug and Mental Health Courts in New Hampshire
• Learning how to do life
• Discovering there is Life Beyond Addiction