Her Story
About Nicole
Nicole Hager serves as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Substance Abuse Counselor in Millsboro, Delaware. She has worked in the substance abuse field for about three years, beginning as a certified peer recovery specialist and recently expanding into substance abuse counseling. Nicole is currently employed at CORAS Wellness and Behavioral Health as an MAT substance use counselor while also working part-time as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist at Recovery Innovations. She earned her Associate's degree in Human and Social Services in 2025 from Bryant and Stratton College and is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, having started at Capella University before transferring to Delaware State University. Nicole is a member of the National Honor Society and recently joined NSLS. Her work is deeply informed by her lived experience in recovery from drugs and alcohol, having overcome chronic homelessness and incarceration, and having lost both a husband and a fiancé to heroin overdoses in 2011 and 2014. She attributes her success to this personal journey and the power of sharing her story to connect with and help others achieve sobriety. Nicole values honesty, compassion, empathy, and remaining grounded in her past while prioritizing self-care and her own recovery through 12-step meetings and support systems. Nicole's main motivation for continued sobriety is her two teenage sons, her mom- her best friend and biggest support- using her lived experience to help others find hope and recover, and her commitment to personal growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nicole
01What do you attribute your success to?
My lived experience in recovery from drugs and alcohol, having overcome chronic homelessness, incarceration, losing a husband and a fiancé to heroin overdoses in 2011 and 2014, and using my story to help others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
(In the substance use field) The power is in your story
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up. This is a very demanding challenging field. Self-care is huge. Prioritize your own recovery through 12-step meetings, support groups, and a sponsor. Working in recovery is not your recovery.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include loss - seeing people lose their lives to addiction despite efforts to help. Opportunities include constant growth, learning, meeting new people, and helping others get sober.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, being true to who you are, not forgetting where I came from, compassion, and empathy.
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