Drug awareness in jail

chocho
4950

Drug awareness in jail

I work in a county jail in Alabama. For a year my partner and I have held a drug awareness class there. We do it on our own time and our participants are strictly volunteers. I think I am posting this to vent more that anything. I have found that the judicial system here is out of the loop when it comes to meth addiction. If they allow rehab for someone it is usually a three month program which is usually useless. If you don't have family with influence and money on the outside working for you, rehab is usually out of the question anyway. Once in a while I see a flicker of hope, but very very seldom. It is usually prison with a mandatory SAP. Since the court mandates that this program has to be attended before one can be released, it has just become a way out. I have never heard anyone say that it is a good program or that those who administer it care one way or another.
A couple of days ago we had a huge bust in this county and two of the girls arrested had previously attended my little awareness program. I wasn't really hurt that they were back in jail or that they couldn't stay clean on their own. I was hurt to see them in the state they were. Both were tweaking in the worst way, and just barely were able to recognize the fact that they were in deep legal trouble here. They were still out on bond on the previous charges. Neither was willing to take any responsibility for her actions or problems. The physical effect was really obvious. They have slept ever since they came down enough to be able to. I am venting here to talk myself into not throwing in the towel, because I know if just one learns and takes heed it is worth it. There are so many more downs than ups--but I know it has to stop with the user and those in jail have the least chance of all. I am not sure any of this makes much sense, but it has sure made me feel better to write about it--thanks for reading.

Replies...

Tender
heartsKS

Re: Drug awareness in jail

I really appreciate you taking the time to come here and vent. I can only imagine your frustration and disappointment because the odds aren't good for any user, let alone one who is incarcerated.

The only difference between those two girls and me is they got caught. I never did.

I truly believe my higher power had bigger and better things in store for me when I finally found recovery. One of the most important is carrying the message of hope to other addicts. I can't tell you how many gals I have sponsored over the years, and not a one of them has stayed clean up until my most recent sponsoree, and she just celebrated 2 years in March. I work really hard to not take that personally. It is the choice of the individual whether he/she wants recovery. You never know when you may make a difference in just one person, as you said. I may have planted a seed in someone's mind through the years. I don't know.

For me, part of being humble is doing what is put in front of me, and leaving the results to my higher power. The higher my expectations of others, the lower my serenity.

What you do IS important, even though you are discouraged right now. Please feel free to stop by here often, even if it's just to vent.

I am an addict and have been clean since August 5, 1990. ((((hugs))))

anon

Re: Drug awareness in jail

No matter how small the hammer a wall when hit often enough will eventually fall.

chocho
4950

Re: Drug awareness in jail

Thank you so very much for your encouragement. I know we will continue with this class, and I know you are right, just one makes it all worthwhile. We have speakers come at the end of each class who are several years clean. They offer hope and are examples of the posititive possibilities. They are ex inmates of our facility and are now living productive lives. I appreciate them and you.

JUSTCATS

Re: Drug awareness in jail

Please, don't give up, and throw in the towel!!! If you even help one person dealing, with meth addiction you have made a difference.

You are giving these addicts the knowledge to use, it is "their choice" on how they use it. If you don't take the time to give them the knowledge, then nobody will!

I too, have lost someone that I love, to meth. "The system" doesn't give a damn about them. My ex sits in a prison in Florida for the next six years, because nobody took the time to help him while he was in the county jail. He bonded out and repeated with meth.

What you are doing is wonderful, and you will be truly blessed, for the good that you are doing. I wish I had a way to do what you were doing.

It may be discouraging at times, but you truly are doing a wonderful thing!

Kell
happy

Re: Drug awareness in jail

I'm sorry to hear you're sound frustrated, but grateful that you care enough that it matters to you. I think that makes you a good person to continue teaching and passing along as much information and knowledge as you can. I live near a women's detention facility, and have had thoughts that I wish I could go and talk to other addicts, too. I don't even know if it's possible, or even an actually good idea. The thought just keeps coming to me. I'm glad to hear that there is anyone anywhere who cares enough about us addicts to give good information to us when we get to jail. It gives me hope.

Naiev
Newlywed

Re: Drug awareness in jail

Thank you for posting this, and please don't give up! I completely understand your frustration with the system.

Ten months ago, I made one of the hardest decisions ever...I called the police to come and get my husband because I was afraid he was going to die with the needle in his arm.

Mitigating factors such as I had first contacted his PO and asked for help, turned my own husband in, and him handing over the dope and telling the arresting officer that he had a problem and needed help, didn't matter to anyone. Six years for possesion was the sentence from the PA.

We took it to hearing where I had to take the stand and try to make the Judge understand what meth addiction had done and why I did what I did-to save his life.

The sentence was reduced to 3 years. He had a parole date of Jan. 7, 2007, with the 90 day treatment, but that date has been pulled and he goes in front of the Board again in July.

With your comments about treatment in there, I'm not sure if he should ask for it at the Parole hearing.

loveman
hate
meth1

Re: Drug awareness in jail

Do you mind me asking if you have ever used this or other drugs?

Thank you so much for hanging in there and keeping hope. I have to admit that a lot of times I think there is no hope for people addicted to it. Only from the recovery I've seen on this site do I see hope.

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