MM_013119

mokenamessenger.com life & arts
the Mokena Messenger | January 31, 2019 | 21
Former addict shares story to inspire a road to recovery
Bella Zarlengo
Editorial Intern
For Nick Cialdella, a
26-year-old Mokena resident,
addiction became a
part of his life long before he
himself started using.
Cialdella began heavily
using prescription drugs
when he was 16, while he
was a student at Andrew
High School. The school
had plans to expel Cialdella,
unless he sought out treatment.
At 16 years old, Cialdella
went into treatment for the
first of nine times.
“I just lived to use and
used to live,” Cialdella explained.
Cialdella continued to
abuse prescription drugs
every time he was released
from treatment. And, when
he was 17, he used heroin for
the first time.
When Cialdella was
20 years old, his son was
born.
“I had a kid when I was
20 and six days after my
kid was born, I was hooked
on heroin so bad that I
ended up catching a case.
Tinley Park police had me
set up with a confidential
informant ‘cause I was
selling drugs,’” Cialdella
explained.
For nearly seven years,
Cialdella was in and out of
jail for drug-related felonies.
He overdosed twice and
was revived by Narcan both
times. But Cialdella’s story
does not end there.
“I was gonna go to prison,
but God had a better plan for
me,” Cialdella said.
On June 14, 2015,
Cialdella used drugs for the
last time. Cialdella said that
day was the first time in his
life he accepted that he was a
drug addict.
“It wasn’t until I had, like,
been saved a couple times
and I went in and out of treatment
that I really wrapped
my head around that I was
a drug addict, and I needed
help and I didn’t know how
to live my life on my own,”
Cialdella said.
He went into treatment
and began a 12-step program.
“I got involved in a program
and that program has
changed my life,” Cialdella
said. “I haven’t gotten high
or anything in over threeand-a-half
years, I’ve got
custody of my son, I’ve been
raising my kid.”
Cialdella became very
involved in his 12-step program.
He helps newcomers,
sponsors people, and speaks
publicly for their program,
even traveling to different
states to spread awareness.
But, a year ago this month,
a new opportunity was given
to Cialdella.
In December 2017, he became
the outreach and treatment
coordinator at Never
Alone Recovery treatment
resource facility in Munster,
Indiana. He began his
journey with Never Alone
by answering phone calls
to their hotline number and
helping a small amount of
people seek addiction treatment.
His reach quickly
grew.
“It’s just kind of taken off,
and I think in the last year
I’ve probably helped 300
or 400 people get into treatment,”
Cialdella said.
Now, Cialdella says the
hotline number is linked directly
to his work cell phone
and he is a part of one of the
only resource facilities that
will answer a phone call at
two in the morning.
Separately from Never
Alone, Cialdella drives
homeless addicts to treatment
when they have no other
way of getting there. He
also uses his own personal
Facebook to post videos encouraging
treatment, works
with the Crestwood Police
and speaks publicly at treatment
facilities he was once a
patient at.
Cialdella thinks his age
and story allow him to relate
to younger addicts and
encourages them to get help.
“When I have to, I cover
up my arms and all of that
stuff, but when I go speak
to addicts...I put a T-shirt on
and let my sleeves show and
it’s just more relatable, they
understand me more. It’s
been awesome,” Cialdella
explained.
Cialdella says he is always
looking for what’s next in his
journey to helping addicts
recover. Recently, he has become
heavily involved in the
creation of a nonprofit, Keys
to Freedom, that will create
scholarships to help addicts
who don’t have insurance
pay for treatment.
“[The organization is] so
we can get people with no
insurance more options than
just the limited state funded
availability, paying for them
to go to a private facility out
of state,” Cialdella said.
Five years ago, Cialdella
said he would have never
thought his life would be
anything like how it is now.
“[I’ve been able] to turn
around and change my life
and become a father, helping
addicts, and doing all those
things with my life, becoming
a neighbor, becoming
a good son, somebody that
carries himself with integrity,
and dignity, and grace.
Anyone can recover, and I
believe that,” Cialdella said.
For more information
on Never Alone Recovery,
visit neveralonerecovery.
com or call (844) 364-4445.
Cialdella can be reached
directly at nick@neveralo
nerecovery.com.
Nick Cialdella, a 26-year-old Mokena resident, and his 6-year-old son, Maisen, pose
together for a photo. Nick continues to share his journey to recovery following his
addiction to drugs that nearly took his life. Photo submitted