Heroin at 15, Stripping for Survival, and Human Trafficked in California

In this unforgettable episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Mickey Mills to share one of the most shocking and inspiring recovery stories ever featured on the show. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia and adopted into the United States, Mickey's life was shaped by trauma from an early age. After losing a close friend to suicide and experiencing abuse, she spiraled into addiction, overdosing on benzodiazepines and experimenting with heroin by just 15 years old. Mickey opens up about homelessness, toxic relationships, living under bridges, moving across the country, entering the sex industry, and becoming involved in criminal activity tied to addiction and human smuggling operations near the border. What began as substance abuse evolved into a life marked by exploitation, trafficking, violence, and survival. She also provides powerful insight into the psychology of abusive relationships, addiction, methamphetamine use, dissociation, and the realities many never see behind trafficking and sex work. Through overdoses, near-death experiences, dangerous situations, and devastating betrayals, Mickey somehow survived. Life-changing moments eventually led her toward recovery, motherhood, and a new purpose. Today, she works with survivors of human trafficking and uses her experience to help others escape situations she once believed she would never survive herself. This episode is a raw look at addiction, trauma, recovery, and redemption—and a reminder that transformation is possible. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Title of First Chapter 00:01:00 Born in St. Petersburg, Russia & Early Adoption Story 00:02:00 Childhood After Being Adopted 00:07:00 Losing a Friend to Sucide at 13 00:09:50 Sexual Assault & Early Trauma 00:12:50 Overdosing on Benzodiazepines at School at 15 00:19:00 First Introduction to H3roin at 15 00:22:30 H3roin Overdose & Out-of-Body Experience 00:26:00 Becoming a "Death Dabbler" 00:27:00 A Year in Residential Treatment 00:28:30 Living Under a Bridge in a Trailer Park 00:33:00 Turning Herself In & Going Home 00:34:00 The Psychology of Abusive Relationships 00:38:00 Life With a Criminal Boyfriend 00:41:30 Moving to California 00:43:45 Insurance Scam & Introduction to Opium 00:45:00 Escaping Abuse, Finding Love, and Experiencing Loss 00:47:00 Detoxing With a Stranger From Facebook 00:50:30 Stripping for the First Time 00:52:10 Entering the S3x Industry 00:53:00 Working at Cleveland's Top Strip Club 00:57:00 The Reality of Selling Her Body 00:58:45 The Best Advice a Strip Club Owner Ever Gave Her 01:00:30 Dancing While in Withdrawal & Hitting Bottom 01:03:00 Smuggling Migrants Across the Border & Working for the Cartel 01:06:00 Life Near the Cartel in California 01:09:00 Introduction to Methamphetamine 01:10:00 Addiction, Paranoia, and Life Inside a Trap House 01:13:30 A Three-Day Mth Bender & Police Encounter 01:17:00 Discovering How She Was Set Up by an Abusive Ex 01:20:30 Why Mth Users Pick Their Skin: The Science Explained 01:26:00 Finding Him After the Bender 01:31:00 Starting Over Alone 01:33:00 Private Parties & Escalation in Sex Work 01:36:00 The Strangest Request She Ever Received as a S3x Worker 01:38:00 S3xual Asault, Dissociation, and Survival 01:41:00 Being Sold to a Wealthy Client & Trapped in California 01:43:00 Returning to Ohio & Discovering Fentanyl 01:45:00 Trafficked by Someone in Recovery & Locked in a Room 01:50:00 A Friend, a Blood Clot, and a Life-Threatening Surgery 01:53:00 A Speedball, a Crck House, and the Police Walk In 01:58:00 The Speedway Scandal & Unexpected Pregnancy 02:01:00 Calling 911 on Herself During a Medical Crisis 02:03:00 The Moment Pregnancy Changed Everything 02:08:00 A Two-Day Relapse on Crack Cocaine 02:10:00 Building a Life in Recovery 02:20:00 Working With Human Trafficking Survivors Today 02:25:00 Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks 🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience. Get a Grip Podcast Social Media: Find our TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below! Get a Grip Social Media Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippod... For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments. #getagrip #redemptionstory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #addictionrecovery #recoveryjourney #trauma #childhood #oxy #dealer #soberlife #wedorecover #childhoodtrauma #healing #inspiration #awareness #kingpin #trafficking #hustle #opioidcrisis #neardeathexperience #fyp #prison #bar #mistake #change #survivor #survival #tv #television #inspire #parole #officer #school #teacher #students #study #student #changinglives