Jessica Phelps

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Just For Today

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Michele embraces her son befor...ighting through her recovery.Â

Michele embraces her son before her first meeting with her parole officer, fearful she may have been returned to jail because of missing two Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Her son, Syncere, has already led a tumultuous life and Michele struggles to make it up to him while fighting through her recovery.Â

Michele nervously waits for he...ood part of her day each day.Â

Michele nervously waits for her first meeting with her parole officer, Chad Smith. She was worried about being sent back to jail because she had missed two court-ordered Narcotics Anonymous meetings. As part of her early release from jail, Michele had to participate in meetings for addiction, daily NA or AA meetings and was required to pass drug test every morning. This strict regimen has helped her stay clean, but she says it wears her down and occupies a good part of her day each day.Â

After her drug test Michele fi... days after she was released.Â

After her drug test Michele finds her boyfriend, Travis, and her son, Syncere, waiting for them. They were dating the first few months Michele was out of jail and working through her recovery. The met two days after she was released.Â

Michele's younger brother...ring methamphetamine addicts.Â

Michele's younger brother, Carl, plays music on his cell phone, while Michele's boyfriend, Travis, playfully kisses her behind him. All three are recovering methamphetamine addicts.Â

Michele hugs Travis, who she h...ly became attached to Travis.Â

Michele hugs Travis, who she has been dating for a few months, before leaving for her daily trip to be drug tested. Her son, Syncere, quickly became attached to Travis.Â

Travis holds Syncere to try an... days after she was released.Â

Travis holds Syncere to try and calm him down. Travis was dating Michele the first few months she was out of jail and working through her recovery. They met two days after she was released.Â

Michele, worried she may be pr... of their mother's home.Â

Michele, worried she may be pregnant with her new boyfriend Travis, talks with her brother in the basement of their mother's home.Â

Carl smokes on his bed while l... fight off his own addiction.Â

Carl smokes on his bed while listening to music and reading old texts from his ex. Carl had moved in with Michele to escape trouble at home. While Michele was using methamphetamine he began to use it as well and had to fight off his own addiction.Â

Michele embraces her son and w...her son during an NA meeting.Â

Michele embraces her son and walks angrily away from her boyfriend, Travis, who had been watching her son during an NA meeting.Â

Just before going into a court... lottery tickets, winning $5.Â

Just before going into a court-ordered class to help Michele deal with her addiction, she plays a couple of scratch-off lottery tickets, winning $5.Â

Court-appointed attorney Bryan... her recovery from addiction.Â

Court-appointed attorney Bryan Bowen explains the felony 3 charge Michele is facing and the possible outcomes before entering her plea of not guilty. Michele was charged with possession for 3.2 grams of methamphetamine that fell from her pants in May in front of her parole officer. This occurred before she had committed to her recovery from addiction.Â

Standing in front of the magis... her recovery from addiction.Â

Standing in front of the magistrate with her court-appointed attorney, Michele enters her plea of not guilty at her arraignment on a felony 3 drug charge. Michele was charged with possession for 3.2 grams of methamphetamine that fell from her pants in May in front of her parole officer. This occurred before she had committed to her recovery from addiction.Â

After returning from her court...s: "just for today"Â

After returning from her court hearing, Michele, exhausted and stressed from the day, gives her son, Syncere, a bath. Michele just keeps reminding herself its one day at a time, repeating the mantra from her NA meetings: "just for today"Â

Just for today. That is the ma...na finish it together. "Â

Just for today. That is the mantra helping Michele (left and front) through her recovery. Michele and her friend Angie (top right) began using methamphetamine together when Michele's son, Syncere, was a month old. Her brother Carl also began using when he moved in with Michele. Angie had moved in with the other two saying, "we started this together, now we're gonna finish it together. "Â

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Thumbnail of Michele embraces her son before_fighting through her recovery.Â

Thumbnail of Michele nervously waits for her_good part of her day each day.Â

Thumbnail of After her drug test Michele fin_o days after she was released.Â

Thumbnail of Michele's younger brother,_ering methamphetamine addicts.Â

Thumbnail of Michele hugs Travis, who she ha_kly became attached to Travis.Â

Thumbnail of Travis holds Syncere to try and_o days after she was released.Â

Thumbnail of Michele, worried she may be pre_t of their mother's home.Â

Thumbnail of Carl smokes on his bed while li_o fight off his own addiction.Â

Thumbnail of Michele embraces her son and wa_ her son during an NA meeting.Â

Thumbnail of Just before going into a court-_f lottery tickets, winning $5.Â

Thumbnail of Court-appointed attorney Bryan _o her recovery from addiction.Â

Thumbnail of Standing in front of the magist_o her recovery from addiction.Â

Thumbnail of After returning from her court _gs: "just for today"Â

Public Project

Just For Today

Copyright Jessica Phelps 2024

Updated Nov 2016

Location Newark Ohio

Topics Addiction, Documentary, Drug Abuse, Photography, Photojournalism

Michele Dobos is an addict "“ one who has stolen, taken drugs to a drug screening and broken other laws. But she is not alone. In fact, she is one of thousands across Ohio struggling with addiction.

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