NJ.com: Mike 'The Situation' of 'Jersey Shore': 'Dancing with the Stars' injury led to painkiller addiction

9/10/2013

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Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is opening up on his recovery from prescription painkiller addiction. (Reset Reality)
Janelle Griffith/The Star-LedgerBy Janelle Griffith/The Star-Ledger 
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on September 10, 2013 at 2:41 PM, updated September 10, 2013 at 8:19 PM

 

While many of his cast mates, including Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, and Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio, went on to post-"Jersey Shore" fame and secured spin-off series, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was in a downward spiral.

But now, he appears to have found a way out.

Sorrentino is opening up about how his addiction to prescription painkillers almost stripped him of everything.

The 32-year-old says his addiction began after he suffered a neck injury while competing on season 11 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

The former reality TV star says he finally realized he had a problem in 2012, during an appearance tour in Australia.

"I couldn't even get dressed for a family dinner," he says. "The clothes were laid out for me and I couldn't even get out of bed."

Sorrentino says his family members — who had already suspected he was battling an addiction — began to search for the right treatment for him.

In a matter of days, after researching doctors and facilities, they found one that they believed would work.

Since then, Sorrentino says he has followed a recovery regimen that includes the daily use of prescription drug Suboxone and counseling three to five times per month.

He has also partnered with Reset Reality, a public health initiative designed to increase awareness of opioid prescription painkiller addiction, and works as an ambassador for the campaign.

Throughout his battle, Sorrentinto says he has had the support of his family and "Jersey Shore" cast mates, especially Pauly D and Snooki.

And while he insists his addiction never played out on camera, Sorrentino doesn't blame the hit MTV series for his ordeal.

"I'm not going to say yes or no (that it contributed to his diagnosis), but I will say opioid addiction doesn't discriminate," he says.

Sorrentino hasn't escaped the Shore either; he now lives in a Jersey Shore town. But he's no longer trolling the boardwalk for girls that are "DTF."

"I am taken and off the market, so to speak," he says. "I am back together with my college sweetheart and am very happy."

Sorrentino says he hopes to work again in the same field that catapulted him to fame and hinted at a big announcement to come.

"I had a great experience with reality TV," he says. "I would love to do anything in front of the camera."

And he looks forward to the opportunity to show other sides of himself.

"I truly take it day by day and try to be the best Mike that I can be," he says of his life now. "I think I'm doing a pretty good job so far."