The Labyrinth of Society
Embedded Files
Yannick Peterhans
Team Okamoto
Story Summary
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*The names in the following story have been changed to protect the subject’s privacy*
“If I don’t change now, I won’t change ever,” Marie G. said. An alcoholic, recovering meth addict and survivor of sexual assault, she hopes to overcome the addictions that have lead her to miss important moments in her children’s lives.
During Marie’s 26 days spent in jail for driving while intoxicated, she went through physical withdrawal symptoms, experiencing hot and cold sweats for a week. Upon her release, she almost immediately went to the gas station and bought three American Honey whiskey miniatures. She spent the evening reconnecting with her loved ones, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. Marie drinks because she worries she will otherwise relapse from meth and fentanyl, she said.
She has been sober from both drugs since May of 2023 and knows relapsing means she won’t be able to see her kids. Despite her best efforts, she struggles to avoid environments that have previously led her down a path of addiction.
She lives in her house with eight other people, four dogs and three cats. Marie cares deeply about her family and hopes to leave Missouri to celebrate her son’s fifth birthday in Texas. “If I stay in Missouri, I will be strung out on heroin,” Marie said. She hopes to leave the state with her grandparents, find work at a temp agency and finally reunite with her kids who she hasn’t seen in six months.
Marie G. embraces her mother Sue D. on September 26, 2023, in Sedalia, Mo. Marie spent 30 days in Sedalia County Jail for her second offense for driving while intoxicated.
Marie purchases three American Honey Whiskey miniatures at a gas station one hour after being released from Sedalia County jail. She finished one of the bottles of American Honey after leaving the gas station and preceded to finish the remaining bottles later in the afternoon.
Marie smokes marijuana with her sister Nikkole K.. Marie is a recovering meth addict and has been an alcoholic for several years. She views smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol as the only way she can stay sober from doing meth and heroin.
Marie sits as Nikkole K.B. and J.R. watch a video on their smart phone in Nikkole’s bedroom. Marie doesn’t have a bedroom in the house and sleeps on a beanbag in a broom closet that doubles as her bedroom. When Nikkole is not home, she will sleep in her sister’s bed instead of the beanbag.
Marie throws away chicken wing bones. She spoke poorly of much of the food in jail and was excited to use spices in her home cooked meals.
Marie sits on her couch with her cat Oliver. The family couch where Marie often sleeps, is a cornerstone of her life, as is her cat Oliver.
From left, Nikkole K.B. sits on the family couch with J.R., Mitch Cairer Jr., and Marie. Eight people live in the house with Marie, including her step-father and a childhood friend Marie has known for 17 years.
Marie dyes her hair. While in jail, she had her hair braided by a fellow inmate, but at home, Nikkole K.B. helped Marie dye her hair pink.
Marie sits on her porch as she speaks with her grandmother on the phone. She was hoping to move to Texas but doesn’t have a way to get there.
Marie enters her house after speaking with her mother Sue D. Sue has played an active role in her daughter’s sobriety, helping her go to rehabilitation centers while working numerous jobs to support the family financially.
The door and the wall in Marie’s home have deteriorated from years of use by various family members and dogs living in the house.
Marie speaks with Sue D. Sue has played an active role in her daughter’s sobriety, helping her go to rehabilitation centers while working numerous jobs to support the family financially.
Marie floats in an inner tube in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. Upon being released from jail, Marie wanted to go to the lake.
Brian Kratzer, Co-Director
Alyssa Schukar, Co-Director
Hany Hawasly, Technical Director
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