Detroit resident, Steve, 43, fills one of his cab driver's tires up with air before the driver's day of work begins, at Checkers Cab Company. “I started my cab company in 2010 with three cars out of my garage and because I was so successful wit

Detroit resident, Steve, 43, fills one of his cab driver's tires up with air before the driver's day of work begins, at Checkers Cab Company. “I started my cab company in 2010 with three cars out of my garage and because I was so successful with it they offered me a job. They gave me 30 cars and now I own the business,” Steve says. “I take home $2,400 a day now.” 

*Name changed for protection

Steve walks outside of the Sunoco Gas Station after purchasing cigarettes and a bottle of coke for his boyfriend, Brian, on his way home from work.

Steve walks outside of the Sunoco Gas Station after purchasing cigarettes and a bottle of coke for his boyfriend, Brian, on his way home from work.

Steve counts his cash after his day of work at Checker Cab Company in downtown Detroit.  "Depending on how much cash I make at work that week, depends on how much cash I can put towards buying drugs, basically," he explains. "My boyfriend

Steve counts his cash after his day of work at Checker Cab Company in downtown Detroit.  "Depending on how much cash I make at work that week, depends on how much cash I can put towards buying drugs, basically," he explains. "My boyfriend Brian and I hardly even spend money on groceries.  Most of it goes towards buying the meth." 

Steve lights up his lighter under his crystal meth pipe to see how much is remaining before he gets high in the basement of his home. He's has been smoking crystal meth everyday, 3-4 times a day, for the past 5 years of his life, starting back

Steve lights up his lighter under his crystal meth pipe to see how much is remaining before he gets high in the basement of his home. He's has been smoking crystal meth everyday, 3-4 times a day, for the past 5 years of his life, starting back in 2009. 

Steve laughs as his friend "Skippy" attempts to feed him pizza in the basement of his home at 6:30 a.m. He has to be at work within the hour. 

Steve laughs as his friend "Skippy" attempts to feed him pizza in the basement of his home at 6:30 a.m. He has to be at work within the hour. 

Steve has been dating his partner Brian for 14 years.  At the age of 21, he was married from an arranged marriage. It ended 10 years later.  From that marriage, Steve has two daughters who also work at Checkers Cab Company that are unaware

Steve has been dating his partner Brian for 14 years.  At the age of 21, he was married from an arranged marriage. It ended 10 years later.  From that marriage, Steve has two daughters who also work at Checkers Cab Company that are unaware of his relationship with Brian and unaware of his drug use.  

Steve yells on the phone to a client while his daughter Mariella, 19, and her friend wait to go inside the house so they can pet his three dogs. 

Steve yells on the phone to a client while his daughter Mariella, 19, and her friend wait to go inside the house so they can pet his three dogs. 

Steve starts to come down from his "swirl" as his friends argue around him about who will be driving them home from Club Gold Coast, a gay strip club, in Detroit. Every couple months they spend a couple thousand dollars on 40 gallons of GHB, a date

Steve starts to come down from his "swirl" as his friends argue around him about who will be driving them home from Club Gold Coast, a gay strip club, in Detroit. Every couple months they spend a couple thousand dollars on 40 gallons of GHB, a date rape drug when mixed with alcohol. They use it while partying and drink it when they smoke meth. Mixing crystal meth, GHB, and alcohol is referred to as “swirling” which creates a high that is euphoric but also can lead to intense anger or frustration. 

Steve stands in the back room of his Cab Company, Checkers, with his business partner and best friend, Jeff, after smoking a pipe of crystal meth before a days work.  "When I'm high, I feel 10 steps ahead of everyone else.  I can do three

Steve stands in the back room of his Cab Company, Checkers, with his business partner and best friend, Jeff, after smoking a pipe of crystal meth before a days work.  "When I'm high, I feel 10 steps ahead of everyone else.  I can do three to four things at once and not screw them up," Steve says.

Steve gives his dog, Dagger, a kiss while his other dog, Aero, watches in the basement of his home.

Steve gives his dog, Dagger, a kiss while his other dog, Aero, watches in the basement of his home.

Steve's boyfriend Brian, 27, sits at his cluttered desk after a long night of partying till 6:30 a.m., in the basement of their home.

Steve's boyfriend Brian, 27, sits at his cluttered desk after a long night of partying till 6:30 a.m., in the basement of their home.

Steve gets frustrated at work after being up for five days straight. He tries to figure out how much in loans his drivers owe him. “I’m much clearer when I am on meth," he says. "If Brian and I stay up too long and start to get messy, we tell o

Steve gets frustrated at work after being up for five days straight. He tries to figure out how much in loans his drivers owe him. “I’m much clearer when I am on meth," he says. "If Brian and I stay up too long and start to get messy, we tell one another when it is time to get some sleep."

 

Detroit resident, Steve, 43, fills one of his cab driver's tires up with air before the driver's day of work begins, at Checkers Cab Company. “I started my cab company in 2010 with three cars out of my garage and because I was so successful wit
Steve walks outside of the Sunoco Gas Station after purchasing cigarettes and a bottle of coke for his boyfriend, Brian, on his way home from work.
Steve counts his cash after his day of work at Checker Cab Company in downtown Detroit.  "Depending on how much cash I make at work that week, depends on how much cash I can put towards buying drugs, basically," he explains. "My boyfriend
Steve lights up his lighter under his crystal meth pipe to see how much is remaining before he gets high in the basement of his home. He's has been smoking crystal meth everyday, 3-4 times a day, for the past 5 years of his life, starting back
Steve laughs as his friend "Skippy" attempts to feed him pizza in the basement of his home at 6:30 a.m. He has to be at work within the hour. 
Steve has been dating his partner Brian for 14 years.  At the age of 21, he was married from an arranged marriage. It ended 10 years later.  From that marriage, Steve has two daughters who also work at Checkers Cab Company that are unaware
Steve yells on the phone to a client while his daughter Mariella, 19, and her friend wait to go inside the house so they can pet his three dogs. 
Steve starts to come down from his "swirl" as his friends argue around him about who will be driving them home from Club Gold Coast, a gay strip club, in Detroit. Every couple months they spend a couple thousand dollars on 40 gallons of GHB, a date
Steve stands in the back room of his Cab Company, Checkers, with his business partner and best friend, Jeff, after smoking a pipe of crystal meth before a days work.  "When I'm high, I feel 10 steps ahead of everyone else.  I can do three
Steve gives his dog, Dagger, a kiss while his other dog, Aero, watches in the basement of his home.
Steve's boyfriend Brian, 27, sits at his cluttered desk after a long night of partying till 6:30 a.m., in the basement of their home.
Steve gets frustrated at work after being up for five days straight. He tries to figure out how much in loans his drivers owe him. “I’m much clearer when I am on meth," he says. "If Brian and I stay up too long and start to get messy, we tell o

Detroit resident, Steve, 43, fills one of his cab driver's tires up with air before the driver's day of work begins, at Checkers Cab Company. “I started my cab company in 2010 with three cars out of my garage and because I was so successful with it they offered me a job. They gave me 30 cars and now I own the business,” Steve says. “I take home $2,400 a day now.” 

*Name changed for protection

Steve walks outside of the Sunoco Gas Station after purchasing cigarettes and a bottle of coke for his boyfriend, Brian, on his way home from work.

Steve counts his cash after his day of work at Checker Cab Company in downtown Detroit.  "Depending on how much cash I make at work that week, depends on how much cash I can put towards buying drugs, basically," he explains. "My boyfriend Brian and I hardly even spend money on groceries.  Most of it goes towards buying the meth." 

Steve lights up his lighter under his crystal meth pipe to see how much is remaining before he gets high in the basement of his home. He's has been smoking crystal meth everyday, 3-4 times a day, for the past 5 years of his life, starting back in 2009. 

Steve laughs as his friend "Skippy" attempts to feed him pizza in the basement of his home at 6:30 a.m. He has to be at work within the hour. 

Steve has been dating his partner Brian for 14 years.  At the age of 21, he was married from an arranged marriage. It ended 10 years later.  From that marriage, Steve has two daughters who also work at Checkers Cab Company that are unaware of his relationship with Brian and unaware of his drug use.  

Steve yells on the phone to a client while his daughter Mariella, 19, and her friend wait to go inside the house so they can pet his three dogs. 

Steve starts to come down from his "swirl" as his friends argue around him about who will be driving them home from Club Gold Coast, a gay strip club, in Detroit. Every couple months they spend a couple thousand dollars on 40 gallons of GHB, a date rape drug when mixed with alcohol. They use it while partying and drink it when they smoke meth. Mixing crystal meth, GHB, and alcohol is referred to as “swirling” which creates a high that is euphoric but also can lead to intense anger or frustration. 

Steve stands in the back room of his Cab Company, Checkers, with his business partner and best friend, Jeff, after smoking a pipe of crystal meth before a days work.  "When I'm high, I feel 10 steps ahead of everyone else.  I can do three to four things at once and not screw them up," Steve says.

Steve gives his dog, Dagger, a kiss while his other dog, Aero, watches in the basement of his home.

Steve's boyfriend Brian, 27, sits at his cluttered desk after a long night of partying till 6:30 a.m., in the basement of their home.

Steve gets frustrated at work after being up for five days straight. He tries to figure out how much in loans his drivers owe him. “I’m much clearer when I am on meth," he says. "If Brian and I stay up too long and start to get messy, we tell one another when it is time to get some sleep."

 

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