Hope Soldiers’ goal: Help revive those saddled with addiction, depression

Lindsey Greinke acted to help others get off the addiction road she once walked.

Lauren Davis acted because she almost lost her best friend to drugs.

Trent Shelton acted to become a positive example for his little boy.

All three will be at Mariner High School Friday night to talk about battling addiction or overcoming obstacles. “The Revival,” a free event sponsored by Hope Soldiers, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday in the Mariner gym.

Hope Soldiers, an Everett-based nonprofit started by Greinke in 2013, helps people struggling with addiction or depression and their families find treatment and support. More than 1,000 people attended the group’s rally at Mariner last spring.

“None of us are experts, but we are highly experienced,” said Greinke, 27, who April 9 celebrated five years of being free from heroin. “We show people they have a purpose, and teach them how to remove obstacles.”

Along with addiction, the group reaches out to people suffering from self-harm, which Greinke describes as similar to substance abuse. Cutting becomes a way to mask other pain, she said.

Davis and Shelton will be guest speakers at Friday’s event.

Shelton, 31, is a former NFL wide receiver. After playing football for Baylor University, he was with several NFL teams, including the Seattle Seahawks in 2008. From his home in Fort Worth, Texas, he runs RehabTime, a Christian-based nonprofit, and is a motivational speaker.

By phone Tuesday, Shelton said it was the arrival of his son, Tristan, 7, that had him asking “What am I doing with my life?”

He said he wasn’t a rock-bottom drug addict, but used marijuana, alcohol and painkillers. He began questioning his priorities, and decided to be a better example for Tristan. “I wanted to make a change in my life worthy of him,” Shelton said.

And he was haunted by a sad memory. A friend he played football with at Baylor had committed suicide. “I felt guilt for a while,” Shelton said. “I promised to be a shoulder for other people to lean on.”

Greinke said Shelton’s involvement with Hope Soldiers began in 2014 when she asked him to speak at Jackson High School. “He wanted to be part of every community event we’ve had since,” she said.

Davis made a big contribution to helping families affected by addiction with the Legislature’s recent passage of Ricky’s Law, or House Bill 1713. It is named for her best friend, 30-year-old Ricky Garcia, of Seattle. He struggled with heroin addiction and attempted suicide multiple times before getting clean about four years ago.

The bill didn’t make it through the Legislature in 2015, but Davis didn’t give up on legislation that will allow and support involuntary substance abuse treatment.

“It’s virtually impossible, when people are obtaining their drug of choice, to make a choice to voluntarily go to treatment. Their brain has been co-opted by drugs,” said Davis, 29, who lives in Shoreline.

Ricky’s Law, signed recently by Gov. Jay Inslee, laid groundwork to pay for nine secure or locked detox facilities across Washington, two for adolescents, seven for adults. The first is to be built in 2018.

The legislation will require the state to fund parent-initiated chemical dependency treatment. That help has previously been available only for those seeking involuntary treatment for a family member’s mental illness. The bill’s prime sponsor was Rep. Eileen Cody, a West Seattle Democrat. It essentially aligns Washington’s substance abuse and mental health statutes.

“We’re just losing so many teenagers and adult children,” Davis said. “We’re telling families to pray they don’t die.”

Greinke said Hope Soldiers sponsors support group meetings at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Mukilteo Foursquare Church. The group serves people in recovery, those fighting depression or self-harm, and people who have lost someone to suicide. Hope Soldiers also works with people online to find help getting treatment in other places.

“Everybody is searching for freedom,” Greinke said. “Hope Soldiers is here to show people how to get that.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Event at Mariner

Hope Soldiers, a nonprofit that helps people affected by addiction, depression and self-harm, will present “The Revival,” a free community rally, at 7 p.m. Friday in the Mariner High School gym. Speakers include former NFL player Trent Shelton, CEO of RehabTime, and Lauren Davis, originator of Ricky’s Law which clears the way for involuntary substance abuse treatment. Mariner High School is at 200 120th St. SW, Everett.

Information: www.hopesoldiers.com or www.facebook.com/hopesoldiers