Tabor

Tabor Wright, 30, is nine months sober and proud. He hopes his story of recovery can be an inspiration for other young people who might be dealing with an addiction, or even just the temptation.

He was born in Southwest Colorado. His mother was a secretary and his father worked for a pest control company. He was close to his older brother. Tt was a comfortable upbringing for the most part, he said. So when Tabor told them he was gay, his family let him know they shared an unconditional love.

That’s why when his father died in 2015, Tabor started shooting heroin.

He came out to San Diego to get away from it all and entered a sober living home called Team Challenge. He lasted only four days there because he felt like his sexuality was being judged by the Christians who ran the place. When he left there he was able to live for three months with a friend, which unfortunately resulted in him falling back into heroin use. Another friend helped him find his way to Balboa Park where he found other people his age, who were likewise ensnared by substance misuse. Now he was homeless and still addicted to heroin. He learned where to eat, how to stay safe. He lived on $300/month in food stamps. After about a year, he started hearing voices.

Because of the voices, he went to a psychiatrist who said his condition was meth induced. He spent 4 1/2 years in the park before seeking real help. That period was rough. “I thought people could hear my thoughts. That would always lead to an argument. I’d yell at them, ‘Stop listening to my thoughts!’ And they would shout back that they couldn’t hear anything.”

One day when he was desperately hungry Tabor stole some Ramen noodles, a sandwich, and some chocolate, all of which cost approximately $11. As he was leaving the store a security guard came up behind him and startled him. Tabor turned around and pushed the security guard, so he ended up being charged with strong-armed robbery. He went to jail for 3 1/2 months and when he got out, he again went to a sober living program, the VOA, but only stayed an hour.

Friends told him he needed to turn himself in. He lasted 30 days before his first violation, then lasted 45 days before his next violation. So it was either go to a rehab and do the probation, or go to prison. He took the probation.

“I went to Stepping Stone, they helped me get into sober living,” he said. But getting free from heroin is not so easy. But this time he stuck with it, thanks to a friend living in the park who helped him manage the trauma of withdrawals by rubbing Vicks vapor rub on his back and feet. Tabor remembers the dates by heart; “I went into Stepping Stone on Feb, 18, 2020 and came out July 13, 2020. Then I went into sober living for four months.”

Part of his probation was taking care of outstanding warrants. He had one in Colorado. So he was given permission to leave San Diego over the Christmas break. He made the most of his trip by repairing bruised relationships at home. He bought his mother a pair of Golden Girls socks, a puzzle of bluebirds and some salt and pepper shakers for Christmas gifts and the family was able to renew that original unconditional love.

For now he’s taking it one day at a time. “It works if you work it,” he said. “I meditate, take a shower, remind myself I woke up sober in a bed, not on a sidewalk.”

Currently he is living at Rooted Life, a sober living facility run by Family Health Centers. He’d like to get a job working in a restaurant, hoping that that might help him pay for housing when his time is up at Rooted Life. If he doesn’t get an income soon he is worried that he might end up homeless again. He’s also thinking about applying for SSI and getting medication to deal with the voices still occasionally occupying his head. He is worried however, about the addictive quality of psych meds. “I don’t want to be trading one substance for another.” He has advice for other youth similarly on the verge of slipping into heroin use. “Go back home! Say no. You do not want to be in this situation. I see so many young kids, 17 years old, and I wonder what the hell is going on?”