Ex-Addict Bares His Soul And His Scars

Steve Wade lived the life of a typical 28-year-old. He enjoyed fishing, hiking, boating, camping, swimming, pool. A full-time student at Spokane Community College, he studied diesel mechanics and worked for Kenmore Trucks.

But Wade was unique, too, in a way that would change his life forever.

He had been using drugs and alcohol since he was 10 years old. He started to cave in to peer pressure - to be accepted.

Now 30 and completely sober, Wade speaks to groups about the dangers of drugs in his “Smart Choices” program.

His drastic turnaround from an 18-year drug addiction to anti-drug speeches didn’t come easy.

On April 4, 1995, he overdosed on methamphetamines, which landed him in a coma for four days, the hospital for seven weeks and in an assisted living facility for six months. He racked up $350,000 in medical bills and went through extensive rehabilitation.

While in the coma, his temperature rose to 110 degrees, basically “boiling” his brain, Wade said. Or at least the parts that hadn’t already been destroyed by drug use.

Wade’s lecture includes an educational video about drugs, pictures of him in a coma, and before and after the overdose. Wade weighed more than 200 pounds before the overdose, but shriveled to a mere 96 pounds when his muscles atrophied in the hospital.

He bares his stomach to audiences, exposing a large scar from surgery. He lifts his pant leg to display a leg brace he wears after a man in search of drugs shot him with a .38-caliber pistol.

Wade said he didn’t ever think he’d overdose. He envisioned himself owning a house, having a good job and a family by the age of 30.

Instead, the brain damage robbed him of normal speech. His words are slurred and slow, and his brain functions much, much slower than it did, he said. His equilibrium is off, he lives with his mother and he won’t ever drive again.

The presentation makes the effects of drug abuse tangible to audiences, said Wade, who speaks mostly to school groups. “Instead of reading about it in a book, they see it with their own two eyes. It’s a real person,” he said.

“In high school, I never had anyone tell me they (drugs) were bad and that this is what can happen. Maybe if I did, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

But, he has resumed his life and hopes to reach others through his experiences. “When I was on drugs, I could care less about anyone’s feelings,” he said. “Now, I really care about my health. I care about people.”

And people care about him. He has had tremendous support from his mother and brother, who both live in Spokane.

Smart Choices has provided him a different support - the knowledge that his message is getting through. An excerpt from a student confirmed as much: “Your talk was very moving and made me realize just how bad drugs can mess you up. I have to admit the tears were welling up in my eyes as you told your story…I’m so glad you made it through that horrible ordeal and you decided to turn something bad into something good.”

For more information or to schedule Wade, call 327-6559, or e-mail him at stevew@spokane.net.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: Created in support of the Spokane County Health Improvement Partnership (HIP), Discoveries highlights people working to improve community health and well-being. If you have a discovery that deserves recognition, call 742-3660. Or visit their Web site at www.hipspokane.org.