Michael Bernard was born and raised in Chelsea, MA, one of 5 brothers. He began drinking and smoking weed around 15-years-old, which continued throughout high-school. In his senior year, he tried coke and then went on to deal. It wasn't long after that Michael tried heroin. He was in and out of detox programs and struggled to stay clean. However, in 2003 his daughter was born and he went through and graduated from Project Turnabout. There would still be another relapse and then, unfortunately, Michael was put on methadone - which he believed to be the biggest mistake of his life. It wasn't until he got arrested that he was able to remain sober and honest and free of stigma.