Just wondering if this sounds right...an inmate carrying around and taking his own (supposedly prescribed) drugs anywhere he wants to take them? Like in the visiting room?
Just reaching into his pocket and quickly popping some pills while sitting down talking to a visitor?
I would think there would be a scheduled medication time?
I really need an answer to this, please? This troubles me.This took place at DCCC...
Thanks....
lis

I should clarify about what he took, it was supposedly his "mood elevater' that he was taking because he had pain from back surgery years ago.
lis

from my understanding of things they have what they call a 'med line' at certain times throughout the day that they have to go through to get their medication through a nurse......this person may have been popping pills but it may not have been legal......I've seen it happen a couple of times in the visit room myself, I think the visitor is getting it in and the inmate is taking it real quick personally but who am I to sit in judgement.

I have seen Medical give some inmates meds to take on their own time. It may all depend on the staff and the inmate

billysbabee, that's exactly the problem! See, the person taking the supposed meds or whatever it was, was my cousin and *I* was the visitor!!! Couple that with the fact that I am allowed to take my nitroglycerin (heart med) into visitation, and do you see how scary that is for me? If he wasn't supposed to be taking those pills, and he'd gotten caught, they would have thought that *I* had brought whatever it was in, and then you can imagine how that would have played out!
I can't believe someone would be so thoughtless! I can't believe my own blood would do something like that, to endanger me...BUT....
He's a chronic drug user, tho always says he doesn't have a problem, until he gets caught, and then he DID have a problem, but has learned his lesson- 3 times incarcerated with drug related felonies...
So docwatchdog, what do you think about that?
What does ANYONE think about this whole thing?

lis

Lis, I can't say for certain about your situation but I do know of inmates being allowed to hold their own medication so it could be legit. I know 2 inmates right now who have several prescriptions with them in their cells or on them at all times and some of those scripts are pretty heavy duty.

The way they do it where my friend is, is that he has to go to medical once a week to get his prescribed amount and then he keeps it with him. He has to use it correctly and make it last until his next visit or until the prison gets off its butt and orders more because they ran out but that's a whole different story ;)

My opinion, if he was brazen enough to take it right there in the visiting room, more than likely he has permission to take it. Like I said, I'm not in your postition but that's what I always think when I see other inmates take meds in visiting so it definitley possible :)

lis, from what's been found out about some inmates keeping meds on them it's very possible it was legit and shouldn't have been a problem, although maybe there should be a rule against them taking it in the visit area unless it is something like nitro or an inhaler that they might need immediately so that we as visitors aren't suspect like that, I can definitely see where your worries lie there, but I am glad to hear that they are giving the guys a little bit of trust and responsiblity by allowing them to keep their own medications.

Some medications have to be taken at certain times of the day & usually with food. If an inmate was at an all day visit (or even 4 hour), then if he were supposed to take medication at a certain time, then he would need to take it then. Lis, did you ask your cousin what it was that he was taking & why?

Ok, here's exactly what happened...he came into the visit and I noticed he was staggering a little...I asked him if he was ok, and he said he was...I was kind of concerned, but dropped it, cos we sat down and he seemd fine.
So we are talking, and we got food and stuff to drink and all that...and he really quick, in one motion, reaches in his pants pocket and puts something in his mouth. I asked what he was doing, what was that. He says it's his mood elevater medicine and he's taking them for his back, because he had surgery back in like 1993 and his back hurts.
I really didn't think much about it, but it's been like rumbling in the back of my mind...becasue he really is 'slick' with his drugs (or was in the past) and because every time I talk to him lately at visits, he's having to take some kind of med for pain...and every time it's a new place, his rotor cuff, his neck, his back...
As you can see, I have inquired about KOP drugs in another thread, and inmates are NOT allowed to kep meds in their pockets...
I just don't know what to think...I have been sending him money for commissary, and I wonder...sometimes I send 100.00 a month, but mostly around 50.00, and he does have a job...I am really confused about this...
I cannot bring an addict into my home...I have even set him up with a really nice Christian girl... friend of the family ...and then I found out some stuff about her that doesn't sit right with me...
<hugs sigh>
Sorry to go on and on about this, but I am truly confused. Please advise me?
Thanks guys... and hugs and blessings
lis

Why would you be sending that much money to someone that has a drug problem? Most of the time paid meds would not be given out like that because it would be to easy to abuse or have others get the meds. You know if he gets busted, it would not be hard for them to look at you.

oh honey, that much money is way too much for him, Billy has a job and gets by very well on $50 a month, unless they are having a special food sale or he needs something specific like shoes but on the average month when he just needs his basics, he gets about $25 from me and the same from his mom, I would definitely limit the money you are sending him especially beings as that he has had a problem in the past.

As I said before I'm glad they are giving the guys that trust but at the same time it worries me because with all the cell robberies and stuff and drug addicts who will roll you for anything just in hopes of a high, I find it somewhat interesting that they are taking that chance in such a close environment where seemingly nothing is private.

One thing you might do, it may be difficult but if it's really a problem for you is to talk to him about it and explain your fears and ask him to not take anything while you are visiting with him. I don't know if it would do any good or not but it might be worth a try.
I hope for you the best girl. This is a sticky situtation you are in. My prayers are with you.

Hi billysbabee and docwatch
I don't know why I have sent him so much money...I suppose I thought he needed it for like socks and shoes, and extra food. I really never thought about him buying drugs with the money...but as I look back, he's gotten thinner and thinner every time I've seen him since I started sendng money.
Billysbabee, I have no trouble talking to him about what happened, the bad thing is that it has to be done in letters, which I'm not sure about doing that. I had written him a letter about it, stamped and everything, but didn't send it due to the fact of mail being read.
Anyway, I think he knows I'm mad...he hasn't written since the visit, and his girlfriend has gotten 2 letters. I did tell her mother (my friend) that there was trouble with my cousin...(I *didn't* mention that there's also trouble with her daughter<g>)
Now her mother is acting cool towards me. I'm pretty devestated over that. You see...he's always lying and twisting things around to where HE'S the truthful one. This has happened to our whole family, one by one, and I was his only semi-supporter through it all, because I thought he would change.
Unless things DO change, I can't let him in my home. But then I wonder, and my heart hurts to think where will he go where people will support him (emotionally) and try to help him? Ah well <shrug>
Thanks to all of you, (((hugs))),
lis

it would actually be best to talk to him about it in person if you visit him, then you've no fear of them reading the letters or listening in on the phone call, I know that when Billy and I have serious things to talk about that's how we do it but then again I visit most every weekend anyway so it's not a big deal and it's rare for us to have need to discuss anything that personal anyway.

You are in a difficult place and it sounds as if you should put some distance there, I'm known for my "bluntness" so please forgive me if I overstep here but if he is continually twisting things (lying) and you even remotely suspect that he isn't done with drugs completely then you can't allow him into your life upon his release and even though it will hurt your heart, allowing him could hurt alot more, a whole lot more, he could begin to steal from you and worse. We always want to beleive that those that we love will change, I have a friend in prison right now, we've been friends since birth, I was born in Nov then he in Jan, our moms were best friends, always together, we were raised like bro and sis.....I can't beleive he did the things he did and I want to beleive he is ready to come out but I know not to, this is his 2nd time in, but my heart aches for him, so I do understand that, so in closing I just wish to say that it seems that you should put some distance there and I don't know if you are a beleiver in God or not but I am and I would highly recommend that you put him on the altar in God's hands and then pray that God will lead you in your next steps in what to do as I know giving up on him is not what you wish to do. Hang tough and give him some tough love, I'll add you to my prayers and if you need a should and don't mind the bluntness..feel free to PM me.

Caring for someone that is an addict is very hard and you hope and pray they will change. After all they keep telling you they will, Some do but Some don't and you must protect yourself. Stop sending so much if not all the money. and Don't send money to others inside or out. I know some families that have gotten in trouble doing that..

Oh Billysbabee, the people I have had to take my hands off and give to God lately...I'm becoming a professional "Giver to God" it seems. The tears would prolly fill ...well, actually, a small bowl, but I was going to say the tears would fill a river.<g>
I am going to distance myself, that's for sure. I cannot visit until at least September, have my daughter in law showing sings of imminent labor and delivery and my daughter is due June 3rd.
Summer is spent with my handicapped kids and adults and my husband, plus babysitting my oldest daughter's 2 kids.
No way I can visit until at the earliest, September.
Docwatch, I am not sending much money in the future...maybe 20.00 a month?
He's never asked me to send any money to anyone else. And I wouldnt send any to anyone else. I was just thinking how happy he would be to be able to buy stuff...he had nobody when I caught up with him finally...he had absolutely nobody. His mom had deserted him, and then she died, and that was about the time I came into his life again.
Thanks, guys. I'm gonna back off of him. That's all I can do, cos I'm really confused... and have no answers. It's time to just watch carefully.
hugs,
lis

Big hugs to you lis....enjoy your summer, it sounds busy yet wonderful! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Lis, I know it's not easy so tons of (((hugs))) your way! One minute you feel guilty for pulling back, the next mad because you feel used, and then sad because you don't feel like you can get through to them. It's a constant battle but you've got a lot of love in your heart to give. Hang strong :grouphug:

billysbabee, My husband and I have a HUGE family that's very close, so this is business as usual around here<g>
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!
Freckle, yes, this is very hard...and all those emotions are inside: protecting, helping, anger and sadness.
I appreciate the hugs, they sure do feel good, sweetie. :-)
lis

Your allowed to carry your medications to your cell, to the yard, to visits just about everywhere. Just like you take heart medication there are other medications that you may need whereever you go. Usually pill line is for medication that could be used to get high ie.. pain pills and psy pills. Just listening to this I think that he was using whatever to get high.

Yes, I think he was getting high too :-(
And getting high with ME as his visitor, so putting ME in a really dangerous position if he'd gotten caught.
Completely selfish. Not to mention it hurts me really deeply that he thinks so little of family - the only people he has in the whole world who have stood by him.
As of now, tho, I am leaving him in the hands of God, and have told him so.
That does not mean I abandon him, just means that I cannot change him no matter how much I care about him.
lis