In 1996, Cristopher was in a bad truck accident while working for San Luis Obispo County and was prescribed pain medication to deal with the pain. Cristopher continued to take the pain medication for 25 years.

In 2013, he re-connected with an old friend and was introduced to heroin and meth to supplement the pain medication. For the next nine years, he lived off the grid until he began having run-ins with the law for criminal behavior and drug use. As a result, he lost everything he had – his mobile home, his motorcycle, and all personal belongings.

Cristopher became homeless, living near the train tracks of Grover Beach and going in and out of jail. He also met a girl addicted to heroin and lived with her for seven years. They lived together for some time until they both were kicked out and homeless again.

“During that time I did not acquire anything, accumulate anything, or take care of any business. I wasn’t doing anything with my life. I felt like I was at the bottom of the barrel.”

While trying to make money, Cristopher was arrested for selling drugs and did seven months in jail. After he was released, he was only out two months before he began to use drugs again and was subsequently arrested. Cristopher knew he wanted to get some form of help and since he had never been to a treatment center, he put in a request with his attorney and judge.

Cristopher contacted Drug and Alcohol Services of San Luis Obispo County while in jail and put in a request to go to rehab. During his 16 days in jail, Cristopher was dealing with withdrawal symptoms and that fueled his determination for the need to quit. His request for treatment services was approved and he was taken to Sun Street Centers Salinas Men’s Residential Program after facing a potential seven years in prison. The information and support provided by staff made the process smoother for him. 

“I started learning what the deal was and I was understanding it. If I had the desire to leave, I would remind myself that I would be back in the same cycle. I learned from my counselor that it can take a year and a half for your brain to reconnect to where you begin to feel ‘normal’ again after quitting.”



“I knew I had to start off fresh and took it day by day. I could feel myself feeling better, healing, thinking clearer and my eyesight got better. After three to four weeks there, I was put on Suboxone and after that, everything changed. I had my energy back, I was positive, and I knew I was now in it for the long run.”

Cristopher began excelling in the program and was even elected dorm representative. That made him feel accomplished and motivated him to keep going. After 45 days, he was told that Sun Street Centers was opening a residential program for men in San Luis Obispo (SLO) and was asked if he was interested in not only being part of the residential program in SLO. He was also asked to be the first Chairman of the Resident Council, a group of residents who meet regularly to address concerns, solve problems, resolve issues, and generally increase the overall satisfaction of program participants. He happily agreed and moved into the SLO Men’s Residential program on August 16, 2022.

“For me, it was like I was elected President of the United States. I knew I had a lot of responsibility and was very grateful for that. I wanted to do it to the best of my ability and feel like I did. I was lucky to be the first chairman and set the tone for the years to come.”

After completing the residential program in San Luis Obispo, he created a list of goals for the next few years. All the goals he set for his first year have been accomplished. He got a job, got an apartment, got his driver’s license back, and got a new car!

Cristopher is looking into becoming a counselor for treatment services to help other people who are ready to change their lives around.  

“I am 63 years old. I have been to the bottom of the barrel, came back up a bit, then dropped back down even lower. I’ve been homeless, lived on dirt, lost everything I had several times. I believe you can become sober at Sun Street Centers because of the way the program works, that is the place where you can turn your life around.”



“I was doubtful at first, but the way the program is run by the brothers there, keeping each other in check, the discipline and the structure of the Resident Council - that was instrumental in my recovery.”