Vinny Bocassi: From Sports Star to Recovery Advocate
"You can send them off to treatment on an airplane or you can say goodbye to him while you bury your son, because at the end of the day, that's what you're going to be doing, because it's life or death." - Vinny Bocassi
What happens when a promising athlete's life takes a sharp turn due to addiction? In this episode of Real Recovery Talk, Tom Conrad and Ben sit down with Vinny Bocassi to unravel his compelling journey from sports scholarships to battling addiction and ultimately becoming a beacon of hope for others. Vinny opens up about his early years, where alcohol and weed were just the beginning.
His story takes a dark turn as he recounts how injuries led him to opiates, spiraling into a full-blown addiction. The turning point? Overdosing three times and witnessing the heartbreak it caused his parents. That raw moment of realization pushed Vinny into treatment, and he's never looked back since. Now, five years sober, Vinny dedicates his life to helping others find their way out of the darkness.
This episode is packed with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and the transformative power of acceptance and creativity in recovery. Whether you're struggling with addiction or know someone who is, Vinny's story offers a powerful reminder that recovery is possible.