‘I’M STEPHEN. I’M AN ADDICT’ FEBRUARY

Stephen Wilson was one of three men to answer the door early last year when we visited the Lake Highlands Oxford House, an all-male sober-living residence on Whitehurst. Concerned neighbors contacted the Advocate after learning that eight recovering addicts/alcoholics were living on their street. We reached the founder of the Lake Highlands house, Chris McGuire, and he invited us over to tour the property and meet the occupants. Our visit, interviews and subsequent discoveries resulted in a multifaceted feature about addiction, addicts, recovery, family, friendship and support. It included photos of Wilson, McGuire and other members, but not this particular portrait of Wilson, who is the house’s youngest member. The photographer who took the photo says he likes that its fine details illustrate some of the ambivalences that punctuated the story. “Here you have this young guy who looks like any student — look at his beanie, the hoodie with its frayed drawstrings — who does not look like what most of us think a drug addict looks like,” he says. Further, note the backdrop. One does not expect the home of eight drug addicts to sport “your grandmother’s wallpaper,” as our shutterbug puts it. The house also was militantly clean. Wilson has remained sober since we met him, thanks in large part to the Oxford House environment. McGuire shares that Wilson, who is in his early 20s, recently was appointed chairman of the local Oxford House chapter. Texas has more than 55 houses and six chapters. The organizational structure helps to ensure that the houses are safe and effectively run, according to Oxford House literature.

PHOTO BY DANNY FULGENCIO

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