Finding their way

Lolita Harper

Nearly three years ago, Steve Wright was forced to his knees by police

as handcuffs were placed on his hands.

Wright was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines and

sent to jail. After his conviction, he was sentenced to 18 months of Drug

Court, in which he was required to attend regular counseling sessions to

kick his drug habit. He was forced to leave his girlfriend of nine years,

Michelle Slack -- also an addict -- and their three children while he

attempted to straighten up his own life.

After more than two years of sobriety, Wright, now 36, returns to his

knees each night to thank God for the blessings in his life.

“I’ve quit drugs for good. I do God now,” he said.

Inspired by her boyfriend’s example, Slack is also on the road to

sobriety.

Like many at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn, the couple is struggling to

take back their lives from the nightmare of drug addiction with the help

of a local church group.

For the past two months, the family has been involved with Miracles in

Motion at Mariners Church, a program designed to teach families how to

take control of their lives and finances to reach their goals. The church

has a bus that takes people from the inn to its sanctuary on Sundays.

Although the program is faith-based, becoming a Christian is not

mandatory, said Holiday Zimmerman, who works directly with Wright and

Slack.

“It is a very holistic, physical, educational program. But we are not

preachy or throwing Bibles in their face,” Zimmerman said.

Besides the church group, Slack has created her own “program,” in

which she attends various group meetings and follows the popular 12 steps

to retake control of her life. If she could have half the resolve Wright

has, she said, she will be able to rid herself of the habit.

“Steve worked his program like he worked his dope,” Slack said. “He

puts every bit of his effort into it.”

Getting arrested was the best thing that ever happened to him, Wright

said. After his trial, he thanked the officer who arrested him for saving

his life.

However, that salvation came at a price -- as a result of his arrest,

Wright lost his job and the family lost their apartment.

“I had to take care of myself before I could start taking care of my

family,” Wright said.

They pay $250 a week to live in a 12-foot by 10-foot room -- home to

all five family members. Wright and Slack pay an extra $50 per week for a

mini fridge and a hotplate.

But the family does not live off welfare.

“I don’t need [government] assistance. As long as I keep working,

there’s no reason we can’t support ourselves,” Wright said.

Wright works at least 60 hours a week driving a truck. He must work

overtime, six days a week, just to ensure his family gets fed. When they

anticipate extra expenses, like back to school clothes and supplies,

Wright will work 14-hour days, he said.

“You can’t tell me we couldn’t afford a nice two-bedroom apartment for

what we pay here. But our credit is so bad, nobody will rent to us,”

Slack said.

She reminisced about their old living situation while looking around

their current home. The motel room is piled high with boxes holding the

family’s belongings. Each of them takes turns sleeping on the two twin

beds, while the others sleep on blankets on the floor.

“It wasn’t a ocean-side house or something you see down in Newport,

but it was better than this,” Slack said. “But I would still rather be

sober and living in this hell hole, than messed up on drugs.”

Stephanie, 4, Sean, 7, and Steven, 9, are forced to find ways to keep

themselves entertained during the summer months when they are not in

school. Directly outside of the family’s room is a large sign posting

certain restrictions.

No running. No skateboards. No bicycles.

No fun, Steven said.

Despite the rules, Steven said he is happier now. Forced to grow up

fast, the 9-year-old remembers having to take care of his younger

siblings while his parents were high or passed out.

“My dad used to hide his pipe under the radio so we wouldn’t find it,

but I always knew,” Steven said.

Both Wright and Slack are surprisingly candid with their children

about their drug use. They started their habits when they were teenagers.

“I’m sorry for the things I did while I was high, but I’m not ashamed

of who I’ve become,” Slack said. “My children are bright. I would be

insulting their intelligence if I tried to convince them nothing was

going on before.”

The mother of three also wants her children to be aware of the tragic

consequences of drug use. She wants to arm the kids with every weapon

possible to fight what she believes is a genetic predisposition toward

addiction. Both Slack and Wright were children of addicts, she said.

“My kids are little addicts in the waiting. I’m going to do everything

in my power to make sure they don’t fall, like I did,” Slack said.

Her drug use began with marijuana in high school, she said. An

occasional joint led to alcohol abuse and heavier drugs. Thankfully, she

said, she avoided heroin but she has done just about every other drug.

Slack and Wright met when their drug dealer -- or what they call their

“connect” -- set them up on a blind date.

“How romantic, huh?” Slack joked.

Drugs slowly began to take over their lives. The couple filed false

claims for public assistance to pay for their deadly habit. Not even the

birth of their children could snap Wright and Slack out of their

addictions.

“Everybody’s rock bottom is different. Drugs took everything from us.

Now our faith in God will help us out,” Wright said.

Zimmerman said the most important thing they need to learn is that

people do care about them.

“They are so isolated. They have no resources. They are so trapped in

motel life that they don’t realize there are people who are willing to

help,” Zimmerman said.

Through the program, a mentor has worked with Slack and Wright to

create a budget and ensure the family stays financially disciplined.

While they are working to be fiscally responsible, Miracles in Motion

provides them with support, Zimmerman said. After proving they can meet

their budgeting goals for at least three months, the program will try to

place them in permanent housing, using the church’s vast connections.

Slack’s goal is to own a house someday with a yard and a picket fence.

“I know it sounds silly but I just want to decorate my own kitchen one

day,” Slack said.

She is sure the day will come eventually. Getting sober was the

hardest part, she said. The rest will come with hard work, determination

and God.

“With everything we’ve gone through -- and the hard times we’re bound

to encounter in the future -- I still wouldn’t trade my worst day sober

for my best day high,” she said.