Hi all- I am the new Moderator for this forum. :)
If you are reading this thread, it is probably more then just plain old curiosity. Meaning, you could have a loved one who is in trouble because of drugs, or you might be that person who is in trouble because of drugs. Either way, drugs hurt everyone involved.
There are many different opinions regarding how drug users, pushers, addicts, etc should be handled. As it has been in the past years, the war on drugs has been our most expensive war. And what has come out of this war? Some say the "bad guys" are where they belong-in prison. Others see prisons maxed to overflowing, tax payers spending much more then they should to keep these people locked up, and scariest of all, they see men and women getting out of prison for drug crimes, just to go right back to using again because of lack of treatment.
So, what do you think about this war?
This is a forum to talk about your feelings on that subject.
My boyfriend is a heroin addict. He has been clean for over a year now, but he will fight this addiction every day of his life for the rest of his life. He is in prison now because of that addiction. Should he be a "prisoner of war" so to speak because of that? Many feel that he should. Many do not.
So, feel free to discuss, share, and give opinions. We are here to make sense of this war, and to understand what it is that not only the addicts, but what their families go through.
It's a hurtful subject, but one that we can learn a great deal from. So, have at it!
There is one thing that those of us who love an addict have in common- fear of the unknown. Let's face the unknown together!
Enjoy!

hi I also have a brother in a michigan prison because of drugs ,now dont get me wrong i know drugs are wrong but i believe giving these drug sellers more time than they give murders or rapists is ridiculous i also have my husband in a Texas prison and he also got lots of time for a non-agravated crime.my brother was just sentenced 9-40 on a drug charge .i really believe our system should consider our laws and change them and give our drug users help and send our murders and rapist to prison

My husband is in jail in Minnesota. This state has gang members that were in prison for rape & murder tripping over each other on their way out of prison on probation. But if you have a drug charge with no priors then you are looking at 8 to 10 years. This is the most retarded system in the world. I used to think that countries like pakistan etc have harsh sentences...life in prison or execution for a drug charge, but the good old usa is just a step away. We put the mentally retarded on death row, we lock up 1st time offenders for 10 years so they can never get a job or apartment when they get out, then we complain how people go back to crime! I am so sorry your boyfriend is adicted to Heroin. I dont know much about it except that it is the worst addiction? I hope he is able to get through it.

frankly, cigarettes are the most addictive. it's ALL a drug, food, exersise, you name it. whatever you are passionate about. how about too much time at PTO? life is so short, i hate it when they whine at the end!

a Hospice nurse

My husband is incarcerated because of his addiction to painkillers. Theyshould not be perscribed to just anyone. It is a multi-million dollar business/game and has utterly devasted our family, short term or not, and has interrupted our lives in more ways than I ever imagined. I agree with msmack, this system is retarded!!!! It is so stupid to incarcerate instead of rehabilitating addicts!!:argh

Mine is in because of his addiction to cocaine and his need to rob to support his habit. Done alot of time for that love of his.
He should have had intense treatment rather than incarceration and more supervision when he was released.
He is paying for his crime, and I believe he should, but no one really commits robberies because they are greedy and want a better lifestyle or 50 inch color tv. They do it out of desperation and soul sickness and the need for their first love...the dope.
I hope I don't sound cranky here...just wanted to respond is all :)

I wonder if the whole war is being fought backwards or something. All that money spent on prisoners who use drugs that get put away, like that is going to cure the addiction, I dont think so. If all that money was spent on healing the addicts then there wont be as many clients for the pushers. They would also free up a very large amount of beds in prison which would mean they can stop worrying about where to get the money for new prisons. The money would have to come from somewhere but if they start it, its a beginning. I think that is the best shot at even making a dent on the ever growing drug world, cause we sure arent winning it, and we never have.
I like Jeni have a loved one in the system who is an addict. The mess he is in right now wouldnt be happening if they had actually did a home check properly before sending him home from prison. Knowing that he is a crack addict and sending him to a crack house is pretty friggin sick if ask me. He tried but he didnt have a hope in hell and was back with crack before anyone could do anything about it. He did try though, he tried so very hard and lasted two weeks. It all makes me sick. regardless of the crimes, or the legalities involved with drugs, we will never win till we fix the people effected, it will all only get worse, just wait till the next new drug comes along.
There is no compassion anywhere in the system for these people who have a disease of addiction. For them to complain about running out of space, well what do they expect, they have all the money in the wrong place.
And one other thing, for some reason, the system doesnt realize that the addicts are victims too, so are their loved ones.
Fix the actual problem and the whole drug business will start to collapse I figure.
The whole thing makes me angry.
Glad you got this here Jeni,

I agree with you all. We give drug users, etc more time than we do murders and raptist. What is wrong with this picture. We tear apart familes. And we are not helping those with the problem. My fiance was sentenced to 9 years. He had a coke problem and was dealing drugs to support it. We have three small children that miss their daddy so much. He is a wonderful father and they are growing up without him because of a stupid mistake. Why not help treat him instead of locking him away. It irriates, hurt, angers me so much. Thanks for the board.

My man was reintroduced to drugs from a family member. He had been clean for 13 months after serving his first term. A lot of things happened, and it seemed like the world was crashing in. I am not making excuses for him, but he chose to return to the life of drugs. It tore our family apart. He became a monster. He has been clean since the day he was locked up...that was like Dec. 12th. He has even stopped smoking cigarrettes. But instead of getting treatment in prison for his addiction, he has had to deal with it on his own.

You can't rehabilitate a drug addict unless they want it real bad, so mandating drug addicts into treatment is a big waste of money. What you end up with is an educated addict who goes right back out.

I agree, though, that putting people with drug problems in prison isn't totally effective, either, and putting the small time drug dealer in prison isn't doing anything to stem the flow of drugs.

The war on drugs hasn't affected me much, but drugs sure have. I'm a widow now thanks to drugs. But I don't blame the small time dealer who sold him the heroin, I blame the government for spending so much money putting small time dealers in prison that they don't devote all their resources going after the big guys and really reducing the amount of drugs that come into the country.

This is such a hard subject for me. My boyfriend is an addict. (as u all probably know) He committed his crime before I knew him, which landed him in prison for 2 years. (Because of drugs) He is back in because he used while on parole.
God, I wish their was a solution to this problem. You can't make addicts enter treatment. Well, sure you can, but if they don't want to be clean, then they won't be. But, you shouldn't lock up a person who WANTS to be clean. Someone who is struggling to stay clean.
How do you decide?
I wish they could give lie detectors to people locked up for drug charges, just to see if they really wanted to be clean.
Stupid, I know.
I hate the fact that my boyfriend has done 13 months, with another 4 months to go, because he used. He didn't committ another crime against anyone else, just himself.
UgH!
How do you decide? Who wants to be clean and who doesn't?

But addiction is only a sympton of a deeper problem. I think we need more reasearch to find why people use the first time. I wanted to add that they are taking small time boy and making them out to be the big boys. The more class one convictions they get, the more $$ they get from Congress. And then they say see we are winning our "war." That is what happened to a friend of mine. They said he was running a million dollar ring and did not even own a car!!!! It was the most ridulous thing I have ever heard. There are alot ofpeople saying the war on drugs is not working, but they have no other solution. I think it will take more home supervision. I think that is what they are trying to do with the drug courts. Has anyone had experience with those?

I have not experienced drug courts, but I think they are a good idea.
I totally agree that addiction is only a symptom of a deeper problem. Thats why it is so frustrating to see people get locked up for using. These people are reaching out for help, and they are not getting any.
You can't force an addict to get help, but locking up EVERY addict is wrong.
Thanks for what you said Fabulous. Very true.

I cant agree with you all more that locking up a drug addict is a bigger problem. My father is a very big crack addict. Although he has not been in jail for his addiction (which I find hard to believe) he has caused so much pain to my whole family. He has been in countless drug rehabilitation hospitals and ALWAYS turns back to drugs once he is released. I do not think that sending drug addicts to prison helps any either. My fiance is in prison for doing a crime that was drug related and I still dont think he is learning much. He went out and robbed someone while being on ecstacy. I dont know what it will take for people to change. In my fathers case hospitals dont help and in my fiances case prison hasnt helped much. I have turned my back on my father and I hate to say it but I may be doing the same thing to my fiance soon. I know that people who are struggling with an addiction need as much love and support as they can get, but its too much stress to worry what they are doing all the time. Good Luck with all of you who are battling the same thing.

It was the use of illegal drugs that totally devastated my family. Because he used, he lost all sense of knowing appropriate boundries which got him into major trouble. Because I used, I didn't recognize the signs that something was terribly wrong with the way that we lived. Or was I in denial? Because we both used, the children were deprived of a decent lifestyle as well as the opportunity to live as a part of a healthy family.

Well, now he's about ready to go forth into society after spending some years behind bars. Hopefully he will avail himself of the drug rehab programs that he must undergo as a part of his parole. And after finally getting my act together by making the decision to NOT USE (with God's Help and Love) and to get my priorities in order I pray with all my being that I NEVER go back to the way it was before he went in. And when we get back together again as a family???

GOD HELP US...

This subject is extremely difficult for me to discuss......I get very angry sometimes when I try to get a point across. i am an addict, who comes from a long line of addicts. I was in rehab by the time I was 16. IT SAVED MY LIFE!! Did I stop using from then on out? NO!! But what rehab did for me, was educate me. It gave me tools to help me to recognize the signs of when I was in too deep. It gave a path in life to GET HELP!! It also helped me to understand how addiction truly works. Treating an addict is NOT an easy job to do. Gees how do I say this.......the only way i can say it clearly is to use myself as an example. When I walked into rehab, I did NOT go there to get clean. I went there to get away from my mom and everybody else. I had NO idea what I was in for. If somebdy would have locked me up in jail or prison, I would NOT be here today. Prison does nothing for an addict!!!! THere is absolutely NO help in prison on how to understand why one is addicted to begin with. Ask someone why they use drugs. 9 out of 10 times the answer will be "because they make me feel good" The reality is, being high feels a WHOLE lot better then facing the deomons that haunt us addicts on a day-to-day basis. Getting high "NUMBS" the pain. The pain is the underlying factor of why someone uses drugs. Rehab, deals with that pain. Rehab isn't just about taking the person off the streets and them getting clean. That's just the beginning. Treatment means, THERAPY, COUNSELING!! I'm sorry if I offend anyone by saying this! I disagree with people who say "putting an addict in treatment doesn't work, if the addict doesn't want it!!" We can give 5, 10, 20 years of prison time to a drug offender, and spend a TON of WASTED money on that. But we can't spend LESS money on giving them 2 or 3 years of INTENSIVE rehabilitation? Educating them, helping them to understand their addiction, giving them the tools to live a healthy clean life, AND counseling them on their demons is NOT wasted money!! I guarntee if the states would start putting the drug offenders in a LONG term treatment program, less would reoffend, then the ones who are put in prison for LONG terms without help, or education!! I was saved with treatment. My husband, on the other hand, is sitting in prison with a 5-20 year sentence with NO help available to him. Here's a man who grew up in a home where drugs were prevelant. Hell his mother used them for breakfast. At age 16 HE was her goffer. go for this drug, Go for that drug. By the time he was 21 he was addicted to meth. He ended up skipping state and coming to Michigan where 6 years later he was addicited again. By then I had met him, and we had a baby on the way. I watched this drug rip our family to pieces and then steal him away from us. ANd now he sits in prison with no education to help him understand the dynamics of his drug use. TO me THAT'S A WASTE OF MONEY!!

Thanks for letting me share.

Stacy

If we (citizens of the US) as a group, dont get together and get a hold on this manufacturing and using of Crystal Meth, it is going to be the ruination of us all.

I have two sons who have been on this mess. The oldest finally figured out what it was doing to him but NOT before it almost killed him. Causing weakening in the aorta just outside his heart.

The other son, is still using and it seems it has such a hold over him that his only child is not even important anymore. She is just 3 months old and he was believed to be sterile sinc he was 27 before she became pregnant. I thought that this baby would make a big change in his life. Boy was I wrong.

Pray for me and my children. Gosh knows we all need it.

Today I got a letter from my brother who is in a texas prison, he want to see his niece and nephew, my two children, but i am still hurt over the hell he put my me, my moms, brother and sister through, he use to deal drugs out of our house and he put all of our lives in danger. I still cant forgive him for that. I just dont know if i want him around my children. The only time i remember him most was when he was high on crack. I think if he got out today he would be tryin to get more crack. I dont think prison is doing anything for him.

My boyfriend got 10 years for a drug related crime. No violence was involved and i think it is horrible that there are people who are robbing others with guns only getting 5 years. I don't know how we are going to do this. I just keep praying for a miracle.

Thank God for this forum. My fiance is a recovering Heroin addict that was in a bad accident 3 years ago. She wasn't able to work so had no insurance. Of course the state doctors(Arizona, the worst most backwards state in the country) perscribed her all sorts of painkillers. You can guess what happened next, she got hooked on wonderful miracle drugs such as Oxecotton. According to her, the kick from that was worse than Heroin. She got a extreme DUI after she pulled over in a private hotel parking lot. She didn't have the keys in the ignition and she was trying to do the right thing by not driving. Didn't mean a thing to the heartless Arizona judge. She wouldn't even let me speak. Susan had done prior 5 years for $40 of Herion 10 years before. The procescutor offered 4 and half years in a plea deal which if she hadn't taken it she could have been facing 15. The thing is she has never stolen to support her habit and she hasn't used since her accident. She was offered just this week in her prison, thank God she turned them done. The bottom line is the non-violent addicts need treatment, not prison time. A Bishop in Phoenix runs down and kills a man and he gets away with probation. The war on drugs is a total waste of money, time, lives, and most of all families!

Following an accident I was prescribed those Oxycodins that your gf got. I have never been the type to have an addictive personality, but i am telling you...she was not lying to you when she told you they are strong. I don't know WHY a Dr would prescribe an addict those pain meds when there are many without the "Oxy-kick" that would do something to relieve her pain without addicting her further.
My man is in jail due to his addiction and other than him being clean since he went in, I don't see what being jailed has done for him but give him the opportunity to reach out thru NA and AA to others in need.
Just my 2cents.

My husband is serving a 30-month sentence for having a drug dealer set him up. My husband never sold any before, but we had a baby and were broke and had no money. He just wanted to put a roof over our head and formula in our baby's mouth. I just found out the drug dealer got his PROBATION terminated b/c he did very well on it. :pissed:

In California there are several levels of drug charges, not counting crimes related too. There is drug use, drug possession, drug dealing, and drug trafficking none of which will give you more time than a murderer or rapist. Of all the drug crimes trafficking is the worst traffickers deal in such quantities that those drugs are used by maybe tens of thousands of people. That is why its the most severely punished. People have no right to treatment or sympathy who partake in that action. The facts are illegal drugs are destructive to people, to society! This is why drugs are illegal. I agree there should be more treatment than plain incarceration. The problem is addiction is partially genetic. How do we treat people who are genetically susceptible to drug addictions? I think the best way is to kill drug flow. That would entail stepping up the "drug war" and invading countries that supply opium, heroin, cocaine, and extacy.

It seems to me that the "drug war" is a war on addicts and their families. We aren't getting the "big wig dealers" most of the time. We are getting the "regular guy" who just needs help.
I would love to see us end the drug flow from other countries-but I don't see it happening. And I would love to see people with drug addictions get the help that they need to live a clean life. I don't see that happening in the very near future either, even though we seem to be trying to go in that direction. There are definitely people out there who manufacture drugs and sell drugs, in gigantic quantities. I don't have any sympathy for these people because they are the problem. However, I do feel for the people who made some bad mistakes in the past and used drugs that they should not have, and are still paying a huge price for it, years later. My boyfriend committed a crime because of drugs, and he did his time for that crime. He didn't get any drug treatment, he just got punished for the crime. (Which, he should have been punished)
However, he is back in now, and has been for 15 months with another 3 months to go, because he couldn't get off heroin on his own. His po knew he had the problem because he told her. He basically begged for help, and he didn't get it. He got prison. THat is what I don't agree with.
So, yea, this is a tricky subject. I know there are definitely people who don't want to be clean, and I feel really sorry for them. But there are those who DO want to get clean, and because of their life threatening addiction to whatever drug, they are viewed as horrible criminals who deserve to be in prison. I can't speak for everyone, ( I am sure I could with this statement, but I won't) but I know my boyfriend isn't a horrible person. He is a good guy with a bad problem, and he is in prison because of it.
That's not right.
Nice to have you here Regular Guy- Glad you decided to see what were about!

Originally posted by Jeni
It seems to me that the "drug war" is a war on addicts and their families. We aren't getting the "big wig dealers" most of the time. This is a problem that society needs to address. We are getting the "regular guy" who just needs help.Most people do not do drugs. Though it is true that certain segments of society live only around drug pushers and addicts.
I would love to see us end the drug flow from other countries-but I don't see it happening. And I would love to see people with drug addictions get the help that they need to live a clean life. I don't see that happening in the very near future either, even though we seem to be trying to go in that direction. There are definitely people out there who manufacture drugs and sell drugs, in gigantic quantities. I don't have any sympathy for these people because they are the problem. However, I do feel for the people who made some bad mistakes in the past and used drugs that they should not have, and are still paying a huge price for it, years later. Its hard to get an unbiased view when someone you care about has a drug problem. I think If he wants to lead a new life he needs to make that decision. I believe it is harder for some people than others, but NO treatment will work no matter how much he goes through until he wants to change. BTW drug treatment centers have a very low success rate. There is no perfect answer. Our government is not designed to control our society it was designed to defend our borders. Our society is what we make of it. Change starts in the head of an individual. My boyfriend committed a crime because of drugs, I hope he blames himself and not drugs. Until he wakes up from "HIS" addiction he will never be able to live a "regular guy" life. Drugs are a symptom. Ask him if he wants help from addiction, and how he intends to get it. I wouldn't let him back home until he makes up a plan of action. and he did his time for that crime. He didn't get any drug treatment, he just got punished for the crime. (Which, he should have been punished)
However, he is back in now, and has been for 15 months with another 3 months to go, because he couldn't get off heroin on his own.Heroin is one of the most addicting drugs out there. Now that he is clean he needs to stay that way if he is ever around it, it will be very hard for him not to get high. There is no good treatment for heroin. The best would be NA meetings with a good peer group. Be careful some of the people in NA groups members don't want to stay sober and will be a bad influence. His po knew he had the problem because he told her. He basically begged for help, and he didn't get it. He got prison. THat is what I don't agree with.
So, yea, this is a tricky subject. I know there are definitely people who don't want to be clean, and I feel really sorry for them. But there are those who DO want to get clean, and because of their life threatening addiction to whatever drug, they are viewed as horrible criminals who deserve to be in prison. I can't speak for everyone, ( I am sure I could with this statement, but I won't) but I know my boyfriend isn't a horrible person. He is a good guy with a bad problem, and he is in prison because of it.
That's not right. Most people are good people they just make bad decision
Nice to have you here Regular Guy- Glad you decided to see what were about! Thank you!

Regular guy- I hear ya!

Most people do not do drugs. Though it is true that certain segments of society live only around drug pushers and addicts.
That is true- but I gotta tell ya I am amazed at how many people DO drugs. When I first started telling Robert's story to people that I know, I was shocked that people that in a million years I wouldn't think would do drugs-have, or do.

Its hard to get an unbiased view when someone you care about has a drug problem. I think If he wants to lead a new life he needs to make that decision. I believe it is harder for some people than others, but NO treatment will work no matter how much he goes through until he wants to change. BTW drug treatment centers have a very low success rate. There is no perfect answer. Our government is not designed to control our society it was designed to defend our borders. Our society is what we make of it. Change starts in the head of an individual
I understand what your saying here too. As much as I hate the fact that my boyfriend is in prison, I would rather him be there instead of out here killing himself. My point is that he is not a "threat" to society. We are so gung-ho on punishing people that we are not paying attention! How much better off would we be if people like my boyfriend, who WANT to be clean, can get into a treatment center and really work on the "why's" of their addiction-instead of sitting in a cell so many hours a day, getting angry, getting non-tolerant, and basically becoming hateful? I understand the whole protecting the borders thing, but what are we protecting ourselves from when we lock up drug addicts. The truth that this country is in serious trouble? God forbid we look into our own backyards-

I hope he blames himself and not drugs. Until he wakes up from "HIS" addiction he will never be able to live a "regular guy" life. Drugs are a symptom. Ask him if he wants help from addiction, and how he intends to get it. I wouldn't let him back home until he makes up a plan of action.
He does realize that drugs have been the problem all his life, however, he does know that he ultimately made the decision to do the crime. He says he won't ever touch drugs again. I know that deep in his heart he believes that right now- it's different out here though, and he knows that.
We have NA and AA books with meetings in the area. I have tons of info about outpatient rehab for when he gets out. The sad thing is, he isn't being paroled until he finishes an offender class. Not a drug class, but an offender class. The DOC either has no idea that all his problems stem from drugs, or they just don't care and are going through the motions.
I believe in him, so he will be coming home.

Heroin is one of the most addicting drugs out there. Now that he is clean he needs to stay that way if he is ever around it, it will be very hard for him not to get high. There is no good treatment for heroin. The best would be NA meetings with a good peer group. Be careful some of the people in NA groups members don't want to stay sober and will be a bad influence.
I agree. Heroin is the worst of the worst in my opinion. He needs to stay away from old "friends" and old "haunts".
Most people are good people they just make bad decision
Absolutely-
Thank you!
Your welcome! :)

Well, the worst thing that the war on drugs has done to me is I get a lot of prejudice. When I tell people my husband was drug dealer, they automatically give me attitude. Seems drug abusers want to blame drug dealers. Drug dealers want to blame the demand. Everyone is pointing fingers.

I was playing on Yahoo games the other night. My profile has my visiting pic with Amir. They couple from England I was chatting and playing with were being all nice and asking me questions. The minute I told them he was in for selling drugs, they launched into this whole attitude driven speach on how "I" was scum and their poor nephew who was an addict. I didnt bother arguing with them, just finished my game said thanks and left. But, it really does get to me. I have even gotten attitude here sometimes. If you try and just talk about his life prior to being incarcerated, people take it as if you are bragging and impressed. Man, you got the wrong woman. The ONLY thing that impresses me is hard work. I have worked my entire life. Easy money has never impressed me.


And, a few years back I allowed my sister to live in my home in Tulsa. I was living there and she moved in. She drove me crazy so I transfered to DFW. I left her in my home with everything I owned. She was a drug addict and an alcoholic. She ran all my utilities up till they were shut off then moved out taking EVERYTHING I owned. Even my mechanics tools I use to earn a living. Noone here can imagine the pain of walking into your home and finding it empty. She even took light fixtures and door knobs. I was nothing but good to her. It almost killed me, literally.

Aiiiiiiii.
My brother at one point got so bad he almost took me down.
I invited him for dinner one night cus i hadn't seen him in forever and he never left!! LOL
He was addicted to morphine and heroin at the time ( unknown to me).
I noticed after a few days he was always nodding out and spent alot of time in the room i let him sleep in.
Long story short, I get a call from him one night telling me to report my car stolen immediately to the cops. Seems he had done the dirty and used my car to get away. He gave me instructions on where to look in the bedroom for his "things".
I will never forget the sickness I felt inside finding his filthy rigs and spoons and blood and burn holes all over the carpet and comforter in my son's room he had been staying in.
I never let him back into my house again. I feel for him and love him still but cannot allow my children to be witness to his lifestyle.
His loss.
I totally understand what you went thru fly:confused:

shan, I am glad I am not the only one who went thru that with a loved one. It has split my family. I do not even talk to any of my family except my mother because I reported it to the police. It hurts, but I am not the bad guy in this situation. She needs help and if it takes her being put in prison for it to happen, then it needs to happen.

The problem being a big one as it is (unprisonment for drug use), there are so many people in prison for other crimes, but the crimes were done to get money for drugs. I would love to see some true stats on this cause I really believe it would blow the average tax payer away. Especially since prison really doesnt do anything to stop the problem. The average addict sits in prison and really doesnt want to do drugs again, but so many of them get released into what they left, its all still there and no one really helped the addict. Especially if their crime for inprisonment was other than drugs, they just slip threw the already wet kleenex like net that is suppose to reform drug users. Im just so sick of it all and if something isnt done major really soon there will be no one left that isnt affected personally and it will be to late. I really believe that there is still time to make major changes, but it will have to be major at this point.
Jeni I love this thread you started, I feel very passionate about it as you know. I will be having more time to read it now as you know.

I'm just so fed up with the drug thing. My sons have lost so much of their life due to drug use and abuse. The same old thing over and over,they get out, tell me they are through with drugs, I believe them, fail drug test, back to prison and so on and so on.They are the addicts but it might as well be me.Because I am the mom,it's killing me. I know I'm not the only mom,girlfriend, wife, friend etc. with the same story. When will the system learn that prison doesn't work? Maybe it does for some but not for my boys.Can't believe they are so dumb, but I guess they are.I want so much to save them, but how? I don't even know how to keep my heart from being broken. Yes, I would say my life has been altered due to drugs.I can't tell you how very happy I am for anyone that is strong enough to quit.

Oh geez you made me cry Valerie. My heart goes out to you. I know some of what you feel and I cant begin to explain what the heartbreak has done to me, but I think if it was my son rather than my other half, it would be so much more painful. You watch them grow up, so innocent and then suddenly they are playing with something that has taken over their life and often the lives of those that love them. I truly feel for you. If you want, PM me, I have a prayer list on my web site and I could put their names on their if you want. Hang in there, I dont know how you can help them, really they can only make that choice. And when they tell you they want to make things right, they probably mean it when they say it. Addiction is very powerful with some drugs. Hang in there.

Witchlin- I would love to see the actual stats on how many people are locked up due to drug use. And I mean all crimes that were committed because of drug use. (not just drug charges) Robert's original crime was considered a violent one, and he never would have done it if he hadn't been addicted to drugs. Not looking for sympathy here, that's just the plain truth. I wonder how many people committed crimes strictly because of drugs. I bet the stats on that would be staggering.
It's nice to have you back Witchlin. Not under these circumstances of course, but still nice to have ya.

Thanks Jeni, glad to be back though not for the reasons I am. I was never exactly gone really anyway, still checked in from time to time.
You know, someone who had lots of time could probably start something that could gather data like that.

My husband's in on a 1st degree drug charge, Manufacturing Meth...although the only thing they had to charge him with was the word of another meth cook who got his charges dropped...gotta love those snitches. He's got a treatment mandate on his sentence that cannot be met in the facility he's in (no treatment there at all)...but will they move him? heck no. *sigh*
He's been convicted before on 4th and 5th degree charges, he's an addict, as am I. I've been clean almost 2 1/2 years, from Crystal Meth. It's not easy.

I'm not stupid, I'm not irresponsible (anymore), I'm a college student maintaining a 3.8 gpa and raising 3 kids by myself. To give you an idea of how an addict can relapse, let me give you an example.

There aren't enough hours in a day, for someone like me. Between maintaining a school schedule, work schedule, studying, keeping up the house, doctor appointments, dental appointments, school functions and conferences for the kids, a teenager who by herself is enough to drive anyone insane with her attitude and now truancy, and trying to juggle all this without a driver's license or extra money for cabs, relying on bus schedules and bus routes to get around....it's difficult to say the least. I am a walking zombie by friday, but there's still laundry to do, test to study for, homework to oversee, meals to cook, and a job to get to. Sleep is beginning to look like a waste of valuable time to me, even though I get 6 hours a night MAX, including weekends. I think you know where I'm going with this. It would be SOOOO easy....SO damn easy, to give in to the craving....because I used to accomplish in a weekend what I can't do in 2 weeks' time or more. I had energy to spare....I got everything done that needed to be done and more, because I didn't sleep for a week!!! or MORE, depending on how long the drug held out.

But that memory, if I let it, is very selective. I can forget about the horrible inevitable crashes, the suffocating depression when the dope and money ran out. I could even forget that's why my family has been torn apart for the past 2 years. But I REFUSE to forget it. I struggle with this battle daily, hourly, by the damn MINUTE, but I see where my husband is, and how easily it could have been me, or both of us doing that time, and I thank God I was given the chance to clean up and stay free while doing so.

Eddy needs treatment, badly. I did it without treatment, at least thus far, I quit on my own, voluntarily. Is it better to do it that way rather than treatment? I don't know. I DO however know that locking me up wouldn't have done any more good than I did for myself. And locking Eddy up for 8 to 13, has not done us any good. Having said that, I'm on the other hand glad something was done. He was so far gone I knew he had 2 choices facing him; death, or prison. Thank God it was the latter, NOW, if they'd only stop warehousing him and others like him and actually work on this issue, the world would be a much better place.

You hang in there ok, I've been a Heroin addict, a Meth addict and Crack addict in my day and Ive been clean for a whole long time, years. I've had those thoughts you have and still do when I least expect it. The more that is on my plate the more often it will pop in my mind. But you said it, it will destroy all that you have managed to hang on too and have succeeded in accomplishing, well you know that too. So hang in there and if you ever want anyone to talk to, pm me.
Well as far as your other half being where he can't fulfill part of his sentences' requirements, is a perfect example of how the system fails yet again with drug offenders.
You dont sound like you have the time, but I think you need to write a letter and copy it to a major newspaper, some politicians that are in your area and send it directly to the top, the Governors office. Your husband isnt the only one in that situation, I've heard this before. Maybe if you dont have the time someone here can help you out. Maybe your husband should write the letter since he probably has a whole lot of time on his hands.
Hang in there, and see if that teen of yours will help you out a bit, well tell her too. You need a hand with things it sounds like.

Good Luck MsAloha1018 and more power to you for being able to kick your drug habbit. Hopefully you will remember the lessons you learned and with God's help you and your man will stay clean.

I have been on both sides of this issue. My first husband and father of my child is in prison for crimes related to his addiction. We divorced for other reasons.

My current husband is in for a sales charge. The charge was nearly a year old when he was sentenced. He had stopped selling months before. Guess it's too late to change after an indictment in the eyes of the law.

I also have several friends and family member who are in or have been in on drug related charges.

It's made me realize there are lots of hypocrites out there. Who talk out of both sides of their mouth.
One minute they want to get help and out of prison (have it be legalized).
The next minute they don't want help, but prefer to stay in prison (have it stay illegal).
These people are only hurting themselves and nor do I feel sorry for them, for hypocrites, who cannot, and do not want to make tough decisions in life, but only want to have the impossible, to have their cake and eat it too. To whine and complain and cry and act like babies in apathy, self-pity and helplessness and instead of forcing themselves to be accountable and responsible for their own happiness and success and future in life for once.
To have treatment and not legalized at the exact same time. THAT will NEVER HAPPEN. You cannot have both! That's impossible! You have to either pick ONLY ONE or the other!!

What is wrong that some of these people can't see that????
What's wrong with them?
What do they want? Prison or not? Illegal or not? How is it possible for something so easy like this be so difficult for some people to decide???

It's like dang, what's with all the APATHY PEOPLE? What the heck? Where'd all this dang APATHY come from anyway?

What is this I ran into anyway, seriously?
Learned helplessness?? What the h*ll good is that ever going to do any of you?? GET OUT OF IT people!! GET OUT OF IT.

I don't understand the ones stuck in complete helplessness and APATHY. I just don't get it. I just DON'T UNDERSTAND.

You cannot have OTHER people "save" you. You have to SAVE YOURSELF. That's jsut the way life is. You cannot have others do it "for" you. You have to SAVE YOURSELF.

Vote Republican. STOP the APATHY. Get out, get a job, get an education. Apply for a loan. Earn a living. Eat healthy. Exercise. Respect your familes. Be responsible for your own future. Pay your taxes. Make small goals for yourself in life. Reward yourself when you meet them. Stop the APATHY. SAVE YOURSELF. Take the initiative. Be responsible. Save your money. Invest in good retirement funds (but if it takes decades, don't worry about it, I am 34 and still not there either, but just becuase I'm not doesn't mean I give up hope!) Build your communities. Teach children how to read books. Become a good example in life. Find some role models and strive to become one yourself for others in life. Take accountability. Take responsibility. Be rpoud of your accomplishments, even if they are samll, so what? Small is better than nothing! take care of yourself! Be happy. Love yourself, others and life. And vote Republican.

I am a recovering food addict. I may not have the same addictions as some of you, but believe me, ANY addiction stinks. I used to be homeless and lived in homeless shelters. I used to carry all of my belongings around in a shopping cart from one shelter to the next because I had no bus money. I was in poverty, all alone, without job potential, depressed, sad, down and out as you can possibly get. But I didn't want to continue living my life that way. All I wanted was to get out of it and the only way I could was to pull myself out of my own apathy up by my own bootstraps and and set samll forward-looking goals, take it forward one step at a time. Slowly never giving up, but just keep looking forward to meeting your goals one day at a time, till one year, I looked back and saw how much progress I really made. Now, sure I could use a whole lot more progress in addition to now, but I'm not going to get down on it because that won't do me any good. The only answer is to keep moving forward, accomplish small goals every day. One day you will see the difference! You will, but only if you DON'T GIVE UP!

Listen, I didn't mean to yell at any of you people here. I was just frustrated at seeing all the apathy. I know it's hard to get out of especially if you are surrounded by it. But the only way to get out of it is to stop surrounding yourself with it. Find other people in your life, community, churches, volunteer groups, whatever to get yourself out of it. Apathy is an energy drain. It does nothing but suck life out of you.
Do what you can to get out of it. Find people who are hard-working and believe in taking responsibility and in charge of their own life. Surround yourself with who you admire and want to be like. Let their behaviours and attitudes influence and rub off on yours. That's what I did. And that's what helped me. It was hard living with other people with so much apathy in the environment, especially in the shelters. It was hard. But I stuck to my goals and got out of it and did the best I could do.

I seriously just don't know if I can come back and post here again either, becaues there is way too much apathy for me here and it just drains me and frustrates me, and I feel as though it's holding me back.

I feel more comfortable talking to others who are forward-looking and positive in life. Some of the most positive people in life are disabled, crippled, and confined in wheelchairs, etc, some of these people you wonder how did they get so positive and full of hope? You stick around them and learn from them, and soon enough it rubs off on you.

But it took me a long time to get away from all the apathy, so the last thing I need is to be surrounded by it all over again. It's too much, too draining. I don't want to go through this again. I'm going to have to just let you people go and go back to others who are positive, because the ones in apathy are too draining and negative for me. Apathy is contagious. Very communicable. If not the greatest. Free yourself from it while you still can. Get out of it. Do what you can. You can do it. You can do it.

The war on drugs is hypocrisy at best because the same people who are throwing drug offenders in prison are the same ones who have a private stash at home. Also the justice system has confidential informants who are nothing more than repeat drug offenders who work off new sentences or snitch so that they can stay out to keep doing what they do while usually sending innocent people to prison. It is the cops job not C.I. 's it is entrapment and I believe a violation of rights. People who use drugs are not all bad sometimes they make stupid mistakes but when you put a first time drug offender in prison for 10-30 to life depending on what state and you give murderers and rapists and child molesters little more tht probation to 7 years I believe the entire justice system is in need of much overhauling . Also for those of yu who know how the system works the only way to get a light sentence is accept a plea agreement which is designed to make the offender fail and go back . Because if you exercise your right to trial especially on a drug charge you are convicted before you even start. And the prosecutors have all these legal potholes which if you fight they will hit you with 5 or 6 felony charges which add up to the commission of onw crime which means you are facing multiple felonies for one crime and that means you are screwed!!!!So the war on Drugs needs to end.

AMEN tawnyas28 AMEN. Let's end it. Let's get the innocent out. The sooner the better. AMEN.

Your answer to the Drug War is "Vote Republican?"
My man is an addict. He is locked up because of his love for cocaine. Since being incarcerated, he has been totally clean. He attends AA, NA, Grief Counselling and any other program he can to better himself and to try to understand how NOT to make the same mistakes twice or three times or ten times.
Apathy is the last thing he or I have towards his addiction.
It is a struggle daily for him. It is a struggle daily for me being here without him because of some stupid drug his body craves. Addicts don't belong in jail, they belong in treatment centres.
And as far as finding people draining....this is the LAST place on earth I feel personally drained. This place renews my spirit in ways you would not even understand.
Seeing these devoted women sticking with their relationships through thick and thin and poverty , and addiction and lonliness and not giving up EVER....well that is positively uplifting.
Oh and by the way....politics have nothing at all to do with addictions, Margaret, so it really doesn't matter who they vote for.

* THIS IS A WONDERFUL THREAD. I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT CLOSED FOR ANY REASON. HOWEVER, IF WE ARE GOING TO GET ARGUMENTAL AND ABUSIVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER, IT WILL BE CLOSED*

My brother is serving 31.3 years on a drug trafficking/gun charge despite the fact he had no criminal record and his case is currently before a panel of judges at the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But I agree with the member who said, nicotine is the drug of choice for many addicts---the difference; however, is that it has become socially acceptable. Addictions are varied and some are not even to an ingested chemical. I just read Dr. Tom Coburn's book "Breach of Trust--how Washington turns outsiders into insiders" and he addresses perhaps one of our greatest problems in America---federal and state legislators who are "addicted to power." His book seems to answer many questions for me as to why money is spent on some things and not on things that would be more beneficial to the country as a whole---careerism. When our representatives are willing to turn a blind eye to the needs of their constituents just for that next "fix of power" is it really any different than the husband/wife turning a blind eye to the needs of their family for their next "fix of chemical?" In my opinion, this is where we need to focus to initiate a change--voting and voting for new people who are willing to limit their terms for the good of the country.

As to how money could be better spent, I think good health care for the young; better education for the young which would include controversal topics like addiction even to substances which are currently socially acceptable, but most importantly teaching them to think for themselves; job development so that young people can make a decent living for themselves and their families; and proper treatment for the addicted who are willing to accept treatment.

Prisons should be the last resort not the first option. I am of the opinion that there are some individuals who cannot live in an organized society independently but they are not the majority of people who are currently incarcerated. Yet, I am also of the opinion that people should be held accountable for their actions. If someone commits a crime that society as a whole thinks requires confinement to remediate--then whether or not the person is an addict should not be a factor for consideration just as whether or not the person can see, hear, talk, walk, etc. should make a difference. Likewise, I do not think people with addictions should be sent to prison because of their addiction any more so than people who cannot see, hear, talk, walk, etc. should be sent to prison because of those particular characteristis.

"Justice" is what we have lost in the War on Drugs and it is costing each and every one of us but I am convinced that we can and will do something about it.

Wow, Leon's Sister;
That was very interesting reading and makes quite a lot of sense. I would like to read that book for sure. I will check out the library and hopefully they have it. I hope you get good news on the appeal.

Happy Holidays,

Witchlinblue, I was successful in checking it out of our local library; however, our county only has one copy and I had to put my name on the waiting list. It took a couple weeks but was well worth the wait.

Thanks for the heads up on that, I guess I will see how available it will be here in Canada, I might have to wait till I go to Michigan. I will let you know what I think when Ive read it.

Let me start by saying that I am not a drug addict, nor do I have any loved ones in prison. For that, I am very grateful. I'm just an ordinary taxpayer who is paying to incarcerate hundreds of thousands of people who do not belong in prison. It seems that we always need a boogie man, and drug addicts are an excellent target.

Addictions are a complicated problem, and I've never seen anything that suggests that locking people up does anything to solve it. About all the war on drugs seems to have done, is thrown away a lot of people who could probably be saved if we Americans thought that it was important to save them. If you want to talk about apathy, I cannot think of a more apathetic approach than simply branding people as being unworthy of being with the rest of us and locking them away in a place where they receive minimal treatment.

Even worse, upon their release we make it very hard for them to hold a decent job and stay clean. Those who do manage to stay straight are to be commended. Unfortunately, I think that they are the exception to the rule. Even with the best treatment, the vast majority of drug addicts relapse a few times. I don't think that drug use by itself should be a crime.

IMHO, prisons should be for people who commit violent acts that hurt people or to a lesser extent those who commit property crimes. It is estimated that 5.6 million Americans have served time in prison. That's roughly 1.8% of our population, or one in every 50 people. It is also far too many.

It costs about $20,000 to lock someone up for a year. I cannot help but wonder if that same amount of money spent treating addictions would do far more to help people and ultimately reduce property and violent crimes. Either way we are going to pay.

This problem is a sad but to true situations. Everybody has their opinion on what should be done to drug offenders, but the truth a lot of people don't understand that it is an addiction and one that can kill someone!! I am a recovering addict with 1year and 4 days clean and I was on my way to prison if I kept my stuff up, but instead something worse happend, I came home one day from being on a run and my 3 children where gone- CPS had taken them from me. I was made to go through an out patient program for mothers and I learned something that has kept me clean for all this time- that is I have a disease called addiction and it is something that will never go away, I didn't ask for this but that is something I must learn to live with. I tried for so long to stay clean off speed and no matter what I did nothing worked. I dameged all my family ties, lost my children, lost my home,my car, but the worst thing I lost was me. But I found something out there that works for me and millions out there, and that is the NA/AA programs. I know they have these programs in the prisons but it is so much diffrent when you get back out there to everyday life and have to deal with all the things going on out there. I've learned that the reason I was doing drugs was to medicate myself so I wouldn't have to feel such as many drug offenders do. I don't belive that locking people up for theses reasons works because it doesn't teach them to learn to be drug free when they get out,they have no tools to use when confronted with drugs which are everywhere. I believe rehabs, drug court and out-patient treatment centers are what they need. They need to be educated and learn how to live with this disease, addiction is like cancer, it will never go away but if you learn to control it and go into remission and can live a long successful life. As for myself like i said i'm 1yr 4days clean,I live a life full of confidence ,self-esteem , love for myself and the belief that i can stay clean for the rest of my life if I just take it One Day Ay A Time. P.s. I will be getting my kids back in 3 weeks and they are coming home to a mom who will finally be there for them,and I can't wait to do it clean and sober. So thanks to all the people in NA and AA because that program works if your willing to surrender and face thet you need help!!!!!!

Mariagreeman,
Congratulations on your one year, you must be feeling really proud. I really hope we hear about the reunion of mum and kids because Im sure that will be a shining beacon in your life. I hope they are proud too, though I'm sure you know as well as me, its not their responsibility to feel any of that, but I do hope they know how hard their mum worked to get things right. Congratulations and keep on taking those one day at a times, addicts arent the only ones that need to learn that humbling lesson. Good luck and dont let go of your support system or the pride I can see between the lines, but by the sounds of things, you already know that. :)

Happy Holidays

Seems like it has been a while since anyone posted here. I have a son who is a prisoner of war . That is what he has called it since day one. He has served 4 yrs . on a 10 yr. sentence for manufacturing. He is addicted to meth. he has been clean for 4 yrs. When he went to prison I saw him take charge of his life and he got into a drug recovery community in the prison. He will be paroled in Feb. 05. He is in another drug treatment program that lasts 10 weeks and is 3 hours a day. He has also taken anger management classes a few times. I just hope and pray every day he can stay clean and away from the drugs. He said he could make a lot of money manufacturing the drugs and he has five kids. The youngest does not remember seeing dad anywhere but in prison. The oldest is 14. When it is your child in prison you often wonder what you did wrong to put that child on this road. I had to figure out it was not what I did but it was his wrong choice. this is his third time in prison so I do not want to see him go again.

Like all the rest I think there is a better way to handle all of this than prison. I also know the offender has to want to change until that time nothing on Gods green earth is going to stop them from getting the drugs they want.

I also have a daughter who is addicted to prescription drugs. It is not a pretty site. It is hard when they start losing things . She is in the middle of a nasty divorce. Her husband does not want to give her anything . He did not want her to see her son. My daughter has went through drug rehabe a couple of times . But she has to realize you are always addicted to drugs. Well I wrote a book . Sorry about that .
dannysmom

My husband is serving 75 months for conspiracy to distribute meth. He also was addicted. He has been in almost 2 years. We have a daughter that also misses her dad so much. I think the sentences they are giving these dealers are also too harsh. Dont get me wrong I think they should be punished but being in prison and away from family for so long I dont think is the answer.
missingloren

My dad died of a heroin addiction - 6 years after he got out of spending 7 1/2 years in an Arizona prison for drugs. My husband is currently serving a 4 1/2 year sentence for trying to avoid being caught while he was out on a drug (crystal meth) binge. Both suffer/ed from chemical imbalances & both have not/did not receive help with their addiction. The purpose of them being in prison is not/was not to help them, but to simply keep them out of "normal society". Therefore, when my husband gets out and tries to put his life and our family back together - what hope does he have? Will he end up like my father? Should I just give up on him, get a divorce, and let my family heal? What hope do we have? I don't want my children living the same life that I did! If anyone wants to PM me with some advise - please do.

ebontortuga- I hear you completely.
I understand when people say that rehab will not help unless the addict turly wants to get clean. I totally understand that.
But I also know that when my boyfriend was sent to prison because of drugs, he was/is not learning how to cope with his addiction. The only thing he has learned in prison is how to be a "tough" guy so to speak. He has a hard edge to him now that he never had before. An addict needs to know that he CAN open up, that he CAN dig deep down to figure out exactly what it was that made him turn to drugs to begin with, without him feeling like a "wussie" (for lack of a better word). How easy is it for a guy to stand up in front of a bunch of other "inmates" and say that he started using cuz his dad didn't love him enough? Or that he never felt good about himself?
In my opinion, the first step in recovery is finding out what it is that made you use to begin with. I dont' know how guys can do that while locked up with a bunch of other guys with something to prove.
Just my opinion.

I have read and truly understand everyones feeling on this subject - my fiance is in prison for drugs also. I have known him for 11 years now and has always had a problem with drugs - he is an addict (herion) - but at the same time he was dealing to make the kind of money you need to keep up such a habit - he is a great person but when he is sober - the drugs totally changed who he was - he has not been locked up for 3 years and has another 3 to go and he has been in about 4 different prisons since he was first arrested - he is now at Walton and he was doing really well there as a teachers aide in the education dept - he felt like he had a purpose, that he was good at something besides being a dealer and he was helping others - well that was until they cut education and now he is picking up cigarette butts in the yard - alot of good that is going to do - I know he needs to be punised for what he has done - he physically hurt anyone by pulling a gun or stabbing anyone - but he did by making money off of them for his own pleasures - but I still feel like just throwing in a prison is not the answer - I know someone has to want to be helped to be helped - but how about all of those that truly want to kick the addiction and become human again - what happens to them do they just go on the wayside and everyone forget they exist. I do what I can - I search everyday for answers to try to better him and help him through this - he has alot of love and support from me and our son but we can't do it all when they have him behind those walls.

Corrections on my last post - "he has now been locked up? and "he physically did not hurt anyone by pulling a gun or stabbing anyone".

This is my 1st time in this forum, but drugs is what got Tito where he is now. He started on lower end end drugs and throught out the years went on to harder drugs. tito is lucky to be alive today. He is on his way home in a couple of months and i hope and pray that he does not relapse.

Good Luck to both of you and keep us all posted on his success.

My fiance is in jail..going to prison, because of the crimes he commited..to get a 'fix'..because he's an addict of Heroin,Cocaine,Crystal Meth,ANY prescription drug,Weed,any other drug you could think of and alcohol... He hardly remembers anything from the past 12 yrs..since he started useing..he regrets it every single day he sits behind bars.. I miss him so much..i wish i could have done more for him while he was a 'free man', but a power greater than I is the only thing that can help him.

~*Angel*~

Thanks for your post Angel. You will find more support then you ever imagined here.
Even though our loved ones are incarcerated because of their addictions, we go through their addiction right with them. It hurts, and its scary as hell.
Again, glad you are here! Stay strong and don't forget to take care of yourself!

I am new to PTO but I would like to tell my story. The man I share my life with was a Drug Dealer. He is now doing time for (weed) and a gun charge. He was robbed at gun point in front of his parents house and (plain and simple) it scared him to death. So despite all the warning and advice his parents and I gave him he carried this gun with him. He got caught. I am glad. I love this man and I pressed him about getting a 9-5. I even helped him look. He did but never stayed. And always sold on the side. Now he can not do anything. He has no cellphone, no calls all time of night, no friends. He was given time to think about everything. He could not even understand why I would not marry him(he asked twice). That gun was a very dangerous and stupid thing. I miss him very much and await his return. I guess I feel guilty because I used to threaten him with prison and that was where he was headed. Now he is there with a five year sentence. I was just wanting him to realize what life could be like. We could be happy without the fast money. He says one reason was he wanted to be able to provide me with anything I wanted. That makes me feel worse.

i think everyone in my life has been harmed by drugs. my brother at an early age was arrested and convicted for possession. he was in and out of jail for years. he now at the age of 48 has liver problems high blood pressure he is very sick.
my ex husband was also an addict he did about every drug possiable and passed away this year he was 54 years old.
my first husband shop lifted to support his habits and spent time in kentucky prison. he is now taking methadone and will for the rest of his life.
my oldest son has smoked pot since he was about 12 years old he has use crack coke and all kinds of pills.
my middle son chris is now in va prison for possession of cocain with intent. he also has smoked pot since an early age. he was also takeing pain pills. i didnt realize how many until he was locked up and had to come off them.
i cant leave myself out i smoked pot drank took pills used cocain and meth. i havent used anything in years now but i still blame myself for the choices my sons have made i should have been a better role model for them.
and the worst is that i recently found out that all 5 of my grandchildren are smokeing pot. they range in age from 15 to 18 years old my heart breaks for them.
i guess you could say that drugs have affected my family .

in reading these posts, it seems like we have the solution that fits what affects us personally. I for one, don't believe that my man should be in for selling the drugs, so I think that the small time dealers should not be put in prison either. He was also hooked on cocaine and pain pills. and thats why he sold it. so I guess I don't think the addicts should be put in either. I guess I sound like I think nonoe should go to prison for drugs at all. NO, thats not it. I just really don't have an answer to it. But I do know that I think that this war should begin in the law enforcement all these detectives who sell most of what they seize, and the sheriffs who have all their little flunkies, and the politicians who live by the buddy system. I live in a small town, and since my man was arrested, there was another man arrested, well, he rolled over on the sheriff, the newspaper contacted him and asked what he knew on the sheriff, he said, quote "enough to keep my ass out of jail" he wont be around much longer I bet. There was supposed to be a big federal investigation, nothing came of it. There was a detective supposidly endicted and nothing came of it, The county attorney had weed growing on his property, NOT HIS. Imagine that. and now one public official is under investigation for vote buying. He will buy his way out of that to. This is just a big crock of s**t. and the more you stir it the worse it stinks. It is all a money raquett. And as long as the big dogs can get thier flunkies to do their dirty work, then it will always be this way. It is all in who you know. and what you can do for them. I don't even vote, I never heard of an honest politician. Doubt there has ever been one, and Bush is so stupid, He don't know his ass from a hole in the ground. There I spoke my mind.

Don't Feel Bad. I Live In A Small City Also And The Haves Get Away With Just About Everything. Yet, The Have Not Men And Women Are Incarcerated For Years. Our Chief D.a. Allegedly Conspired To Kill His Wife With His Lover, Took Bribes And Got 18 Months. No Federal Charges Either. The Drug Captain Was Arrested For Rape, And Other Things. He Was Terminated Oh Excuse Me He And His Lt. Resigned. The Lt. Was Not Charged. Captain Got No Time. Another Cop Was Arrested For Abusing His Wife. She Recorded The Phone Call. No Time. I See Cases, Like In Faye. North Carolina Where The Officers Are Charged Federally Was Bad Conduct. I Also See Where Cities Are Charged With Selective Prosecution And Prosecutorial Misconduct.

Well the entire reason why Chris is in jail is because he was stupid enough to go too far with drugs. He started selling and one night he was high and on coke and a deal turned sour and a bunch of stuff happened. Chris has been in jail for almost a month now and could be in there for over a year if his case goes to federal court. So I've smoked before but now that everything has been put into perspective for us i've decided to stop and he's preaching to me all the time on the phone about me quitting and hes not going to mess with drugs once he gets out, thank God. If anyone wants to know more just let me know and ill tell the story, its not one i like too much.

-Sonia

Hi, my son-in-law has been in jail for 1 month (serving 3 years.) He got caught dealing two and a half years ago, since then he married my daughter they have a beautiful home, a beautiful daughter, and he had a full time great job THEN they put him in jail. I am a licenced substance abuse counselor and putting someone in jail after they have turned their life around makes no sense. And those that don't get "scared straight" should be mandated to treatment not prison. Thanks for listening!

Hi everyone, I just wanted to comment because my husband is doing a 3 year mandatory sentence for selling cocaine. I think this law is outragoues! My husband is doing more time for possesion of 12 grams then people who have committed manslaughter or armed robbery,All because of the mandatory laws in MA. It just gets me so angry I had to get it off my cheast...

I completely agree. My fiance is doing 3 yrs. for possession of 13 grams of coke. I think it is insane that he is in the same classification as a killer or a rapist. It makes me so angry. Nick couldnt hurt a fly yet he is being treated like he murdered someone. He has learned his lesson and should be able to move on with his life.

:pissed: My fiance just got a mandatory 3 years for coke. Its crap!

In a nut shell the "WAR" has cost my Son 4 years of his life and a free college education when he gets out!
THERE SHOULD be rehabilitation for those who want it but like Jeni said, who do you know really wants help and who doesn't ... there's a head knocker for ya!
In my Son's case he is in on a revocation because HE TOLD his probation officer that he had used two weeks before and wanted to go back to the halfway house for more counseling and to get away from where he was "stuck"[which had a no questions asked back door policy for just that reason] He was arrested on the spot! When he got to court two months later it was revealed that the UA was negative and the damn Judge would hear none of the fact it was my Son who turned himself it! Talk about the WAR SUX!!! He was supposed to get out in February but they have "too many" to release so he will have to wait another 2 or more months! WTF - as you may guess I'm the least bit happy with this whole war on drugs crap!

I still can't find that "edit" button :(

the last line above should read;
WTF ... as you may guess, I'm not the least bit happy with this whole War On Drugs crap!

China, I agree with you,it's a bunch of crap.Sounds like your son was trying to get some help and thats very good. He also sounds like he's about to change for the best.I just pray for the day that my son will see the light.I hope your son gets out soon,he shouldn't even be in.

Hi Everyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. I have been a substance abuse counselor for the last 14 years currently working in a lock up facility used to mandate 30 days of drug treatment to addicts and alcoholics. Jail is NOT the answer, if anything it adds to the problem. No one gets "all better" locked up. Treatment, rehabilitation and education is the answer. I am sick about my son-in-law being in jail for 3 years. It fixes nothing. It causes more government spending, reeks havoc in families, undue worry and stress, financial hardship etc etc.
My heart goes out to all of you. Thanks for listening and sharing!

I to work in a detox/substance abuse facility. my ex husband is currently serving a two year sentence. No jail is not the answer. Whi sowa prison actually hurt-the family! he is clean while he is in but I am gonna suggest AA/NA and counseling when he is out. Jeff is a binger. He can go long periods of time with nothing and then WHAM!!!

My boyfriend has an addiction to pain pills but he is not looked up for drug charges. He did somethings while he was messed up. Pain pills is one of the hardest they say to come off of. He was clean for 3 months while in a county jail before he was senetced to prison. he got in a fight while in the county jail and the guy busted Mikes eyelid so he had to get bailed out and go get surgery done to fix his eye and of course the doctor doped him up to put him under and then sent him home with more pain pills and kept giving him the pills eventhough Mikes mom told the doctor he has a addiction. So he was right back on pills again. He was trying to get help going to metadone treatments before he went to court and was doing great. Then he went to court they senected him to 5 years in state. He had to dry out now from everything including the methadone they wont give it to him so he was sick for several weeks while in prison. He says God is helping him and satain is the drug so I hope he will do better next time he is out.

My son-in-law is not an active user however he did get caught with 40 grams of cocaine, looking to make some extra money, stupid idea! Needless to say. So now he's doing three years, went in on his daughters first Birthday.

:) I could not agree more with you. I live in Mass. Not too far from Boston, my son had been in some very minor trouble before, nothing major, and he was stopped in his grilfriend's car, with her driving, (she had just picked him up) and she was dropping him off at our home, which is in a school zone. The police pulled her over, and illegally searched the car, he got arrested for a very MINOR amount of drugs, but, because it was a school zone, he got a MANDATORY 6 YEARS. She got NOTHING.Because she was having a baby. Even though, my son had been clean and in a clinic for 15 months and they would vouch for him. She went on to have the baby and continue with her drug problem.. :pissed: All of these people need rehab.. drugs are some times easier to get in jail than on the streets in Mass. How scarey is that? I don't know about other systems but NO ONE OVERSEES OUR JAILS...the guards answers to NO ONE, that I am aware of, other than other guards.. and most of them are scared to say any thing.
Hi, my son-in-law has been in jail for 1 month (serving 3 years.) He got caught dealing two and a half years ago, since then he married my daughter they have a beautiful home, a beautiful daughter, and he had a full time great job THEN they put him in jail. I am a licenced substance abuse counselor and putting someone in jail after they have turned their life around makes no sense. And those that don't get "scared straight" should be mandated to treatment not prison. Thanks for listening!

Very nice to read. It feels nice to know that someone like yourself is out there. That no every person thinks any person who ever touched a drug in their life ,should be locked up and never see day light again. Thanks for being positive. Let me start by saying that I am not a drug addict, nor do I have any loved ones in prison. For that, I am very grateful. I'm just an ordinary taxpayer who is paying to incarcerate hundreds of thousands of people who do not belong in prison. It seems that we always need a boogie man, and drug addicts are an excellent target.

Addictions are a complicated problem, and I've never seen anything that suggests that locking people up does anything to solve it. About all the war on drugs seems to have done, is thrown away a lot of people who could probably be saved if we Americans thought that it was important to save them. If you want to talk about apathy, I cannot think of a more apathetic approach than simply branding people as being unworthy of being with the rest of us and locking them away in a place where they receive minimal treatment.

Even worse, upon their release we make it very hard for them to hold a decent job and stay clean. Those who do manage to stay straight are to be commended. Unfortunately, I think that they are the exception to the rule. Even with the best treatment, the vast majority of drug addicts relapse a few times. I don't think that drug use by itself should be a crime.

IMHO, prisons should be for people who commit violent acts that hurt people or to a lesser extent those who commit property crimes. It is estimated that 5.6 million Americans have served time in prison. That's roughly 1.8% of our population, or one in every 50 people. It is also far too many.

It costs about $20,000 to lock someone up for a year. I cannot help but wonder if that same amount of money spent treating addictions would do far more to help people and ultimately reduce property and violent crimes. Either way we are going to pay.

I've had my go-roundies with drugs and I have been in jail for drugs. Jail didn't make
me want to stop, and twelve-step programs didn't make me want to stop. What made
me want to stop was me.

The "War On Drugs" has its roots in racism (will quote reference if you want it), and from there mutated to a power trip and moralism. That drugs are destructive is true, but if properly managed (treated, possibly with a maintenance dose) they are not
necessarily harmful. What is truly harmful is the illegality of the drugs, not the drugs
themselves.

It is a matter of record that approximately 2 percent of the population was involved
(i.e., addicted) to drugs before the turn of the last century, and approximately 2
percent of the population was involved (i.e., addicted) to drugs at the turn of this
century. Hence, prima facie the drug on wars (sic) is a failure. Not only does
ramping up the effort serve no social purpose, but it burns resource that we would
be far better off putting into other aspects of the society, and it erodes the very
fabric of a free society.

Given all this, you must ask yourself from one quarter comes the driving force behind
the war on drugs? For the answer, determine who is making money and/or deriving
power from this prohibition. Hint: it isn't the citizenry at large.

AH

goanna,
I agree with you 100%. My brother has been in prison nearly 3 years now and the drug problem in the little eastern Kentucky town did not improve by taking 31.3 years of his life unjustly. Not too long ago I posted a tread about having to tell my brother of the death of one of his neighbors--this morning he called to tell me another sibling had told him of the death of two more people from that small town. The drug war is a political farce which the federal government has allowed to continue for profit.

This is my opinion on the drug war, I was shot by two drug dealers fighting over whose block it was and who was allowed to deal drugs on that block. When I thought the blocked belonged to the city. Well any way I got caught in the cross fire while trying to get my 5 year old neice and other children out of the way. At that time I was 5 months pregnant with a baby. I was shot with a 25 those little bullets like to travel, I was hit in the hip the bullet then traveled into my stomach and lodged 1 inch from my spine. My child survived. With a minor deformity to his head. At that time I was dealing with my man in jail. He is in jail for drug dealing and murder as a result of his drug dealing. After my shooting I stopped writing him and going to see him, I was very very upset at him. And he did nothing to me but his crime I no longer could except. I almost lost my life to a drug dealer and I was fighting with every thing in me to get these men sentenced to 45 to life, because of the three strikes law. My man use to write me and ask did I really want to sentence a man to do a bid like that. And I would say to myself did they think about all those children on the street that day playing enjoying live and freedom, did they think about me and my unborn child. No they didn't. Me and my children were threated. My children could no longer walk to school by themselves, they didn't want to play outside, and they were afraid to sleep. I still went to court each and everytime. Because I wanted to see these mens life reuined as they had reuined mine and my children. I was even willing to take the stand and lie, but it never made it that far. I never saw a gun and I couldn't say who shot me, I was to busy trying to save some lives. My children howerever saw the whole thing unfold they saw who was shooting they saw when the bullet hit me and I stumbled, at that point I had to make a decesion to let my children take the stand and tell what they saw or loose my case, well I lost my case my children relived that day enough. I just want them to get back to normal and be children. When one of the gentlemen was released from jail which wasn't more than a few days after the case was dropped, he came to my home and thanked me for sparing his life, and I thanked him for reuining mine. After about 7 months after my shooting I started writting my man again and explained everything I felt and was feeling, and to my surprise he understood where I was coming from. But to this day I wish they would have all be sentenced to do that 45, because of my 25 that I walk around with lodged in my back everyday. That's what the drug war has done to me.

My wife is serving a 5 yr sentence for a crack pipe and 2 grams of crack which I think is totally overkill. I pray that this experience will enable her to beat her addiction,time will tell. As for what this has done to our family it has been a nightmare. I am now raising a beautiful 5 yr old girl alone with the closest family members 4 hours away. That is very hard with work,I am a salesman and have flexible hours so that helps but is also a problem sometimes. I believe that such harsh sentences are insane for nonviolent offenders and it is all part of a money grabbing scheme. The prison industrial complex is alive and kicking and the lawmakers and police are part of the whole scheme. To pull a parent away for their family for extended periods of time and offer no help to that person while they are locked up makes no sense whatsoever.

this so called war on drugs has ruined as many lives as drugs ever have. i Do believe there is a war to be fought on drugs.i do NOT believe it is one the government is qualified to handle.they are too concerned with "separation of church and state" to ever be close to conquering this problem. addiction is a battle within ones self , a spiritual battle.the government is not qualified to handle that. it would be nice if every one did only what thay were supposed to do, but life isn't that way. i 've seen people in all walks of life become addicted to drugs, and to rid the country of drugs, is unrealistic. if there's a demand there will always be a supply. if you take all the above menioned drugs out, people will find something else-they may huff paint, fuel, ect. but the addictive nature always finds something. i don't claim to have the answers because i don't. but i do know the government doesn't. when something takes over the person you love and changes them into some wierd stranger; to me that can only be demonic. so, as long as the government is so set on keeping God out of things, it's only going to get worse.

Simple:
It is not the drugs, it is the people.
The drug war would be better fought on grounds of humanistic terms.
Is Crack Cocaine ileagle, who cares, giving it to a 14 year old run away, do some time.
It is not the drugs it is the people.

Well I agree that durgs affect our society in one form or another. My fiance is a known drug dealer that's all he's ever be arrested for. He was exposed to drugs by his mother whom was a crack addict for many years (she's since been deceased) so instead of using drugs he sold them. People who are affected by drugs are just as vulnerable as the user. It's up to the individual if he or she wants to change. You can lead a horse to the water but you can't make him drink it. I think drug abusers should be sentenced to treatment verses going to prison, as well as drug dealers, because they should be given a reality check on what they are doing to people. http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif

I too have had my bouts with drugs and run ins with authorities. 12 step programs made me want to go and use and it's just as easy to get drugs in jail as it is to get in the streets it's basically up to the individual. Change is available for anyone who wants to take make it; and not jail, program, or prison will alter that. we are creatures created with free will.

gramof7 that is very good that you have never used a drug and that you don't see an addict as a third rate citizen, because that is just what law enforcement views anyone who is or has been affiliated with drugs and the treatment is always mal-treatment to a druggy or drug dealer.

Shortayraw,we all have done things good and bad, but thank God you and the children are here. God will fight you and your children's battle if you keep still that was a cosiderate thing; a motherly thing to do, not to let your children be be witnesses at a criminal trial. the bullet is there for you to remember that God was with you even while you were doing wrong (feel me) great story!!!!!!!!!

[I have my son in prison on drug charges. He di not sale just fot self us.Yes this people need help not prison,where it is so tough life that make them more angry. Iam from Europe and there are not such hard sentences. A rapist going for 1 and a half year. And a lot of people turn their life around. I am so angry that what is huppend in fact? A lot of lifes are destroid . Like you said...no hope whaen you come hope. And then guess what?.... comback to drugs. Instead this people need help. There are so many thing to say......so unjustice.....What we can do...?

[Wichinblue....your thread said every thing I wanted to say....word by word.....I am so angry too. I am from Europe....you would not believe a rapist there take 1 year.....and here a drug offender lost all his life....I am so angry ....

[Wichinblue....your thread said every thing I wanted to say....word by word.....I am so angry too. I am from Europe....you would not believe a rapist there take 1 year.....and here a drug offender lost all his life....I am so angry ....

Caressa1, I understand you very much. However, we cannot give up. What you have done is a big step--look for a support group, found PrisonTalk, and spoke up. That is a beginning and bless you for having done that.

I recently made a speech at a conference regarding my brother's 31.3 year sentence and in the audience was a gentleman from England. During the Q&A session, he raised his hand and said something like this: "I'm from England. The point here is not whether your brother is guilty or innocent, it is the absurdity of the sentence. In England someone would only get 10 to 12 years for murdering someone!" The fact is that here in the United States, people who murder, rape, rob etc. get less time also. But we cannot give up. We must continue to do everything we can to convince peopel the war on drugs has taken the justice from our criminal justice system rendering it a criminal system.

After reading all the threads I think that StacysWar030 is the most factual and regularguy seems to lack all understanding of drug addiction and how the drug laws are applied. Maybe California is different from the other states in how they apply their drug laws. Something most missed the point on is that the drug laws aren't about rehabilitating. They are about money and the government being able to steal citizens property through drug forfitures. There are many studies done on how the forfiture laws have changed the way drug crimes are investigated and processed. These laws were originally intended for the drug dealers making millions of dollars in drugs but they are actually being applied to the small time dealers because the police and prosecuters know these people can't afford lawyers to stop them in their abuse of power. I live in an area that is considered the meth capitol of the USA. Most of what I see is an abuse of gov power. In my County every cop from city to state except one officer is on the take. People have tried making complaints to state and federal officials. Is anything ever done? NO! NO! and NO!

I agree that everyone must hit their own "bottom" before rehab works but we know that prison does NOT work. Myself I would rather see drug offenders in a long term (2-3 years) treatment program than prison for any length of time. At least they have a chance of doing something betterwith their life than they do by being in prison. And look at the cost of treatment VS prison. Treatment stats are usually based on short term treatment (a few months). This isn't long enough for a person with a serious long term addiction. People with no understanding of addtictions don't seem to understand that when a person has an addiction it's not just a sipmle choice of saying OK I'm not going to do this any more. Besides giving up the drug they must change EVERYTHING about their life. Friends, activites, etc. And when they are trying to make new friends that haven't ever used drugs what is it that they have in common, to strike up conversation about? People with no experience in drug abuse are often very cold towards those trying to turn their life around. Yet want to complain about why don't they do something different with their lives.

Prison is degrading and teaches people to become hardened to life. This does NOTHING to help a person with an addiction. People with addictions are usually hiding from tramatic situations that have previously happened to them in life. Also how many families are torn apart, children left without a father (stats show this puts a child at a higher risk for crime, drug abuse, etc)? The work force is void of people that could be in it?

Prison is Not the answer to drug addiction!

My husband is going to prison for manufacturing meth. The first time he got busted, he got probation. Now, a felon, on probation, he is looking at prison time. Im divorsing him after 20 yrs of marriage and 2 boys. Meth is a terrible thing. He is addicted to making it as much as smoking it . He has gave up his family this time. I dont understand it.......

WoW! Reading all these posts about the drug war I see it from several different sides. I've battled the evil of meth off and on for about 10 years. By off and on I mean I've gone through times where I haven't touched it for years then suddenly for one excuse or another I start up again. Right now I'm sober, I haven't touched that posion since New Years and of course like most addicts I don't plan on ever using again but as an addict I know that it's something I'll battle for the rest of my life. During my last run which started August of 2003 I ended up losing my mom ( October 2003) but it still took several months for the impact of that loss to sink in...I realize now that I missed the last few months of her life because of my addiction. I'm also a mom to 5 beautiful children and now that I'm sober can see that when I'm "high" I'm missing out on their life and that's something I can't ever get back either. I pray everyday, sometimes several times a day to continue to have the strength and support to stay clean. My boyfriend is also a meth addict who has spent the last 7 years in and out of prison for different crimes but most of them trace back to some type of substance abuse. His convictions were all prior to us being together and he currently will be released Oct of 04. We both realize that we have a long road ahead of us but with the love and support of family and friends we feel we can make it. Locking up people who are drug offenders isn't the answer but at the same time you can't force someone to give up the life of substance abuse. In a manner of speaking it's a double edge sword with no quick and easy answer. Rehab might be helpfully but only to someone who really wants the help. What about the person who's crime isn't just for substance abuse what do we do then? Offer them rehab for the one crime and jail time for the other? So long as there is access to drugs there will continue to be this ongoing debate. If I've offended anyone my apologies.

Danny's mom,
Did you know that your son could possibly get a sentence modification on that manufacturing charge?? Has he filed a motion to correct illegal sentence??

The war on drugs?:confused:
Does that mean we are fighting are own citizens to stop doing drugs?
By putting them in prison. That's like putting a kid in a candy stores. Telling the kid do not take any candy from anyone... Ya sure and what do you think that kid is going to do? I don't watch to much TV on this one cause I had a special friend who went to prison in Nevada for selling. They wanted to give him twenty-five years. His parole officers called me to find out why he was in california and skip out? Smell the coffee Mr. it's burning. TWENTY_FIVE years. give me a break. His parole officer said didn't you know he made kids buy from him. First of all he woke me up and I'm not very nice when someone wakes me up for bull...He never sold or made kids buy the dope.. He sold because he had a habit. I didn't tell him that. But that's why he sold. Anyway to make a long story short he got two years. I thought I was going to die. I was in las Veags every two weeks to see him until he got the chain to Wells, Neveda. He was in a level one prison. It was a fire camp. They had a fence around the place, I knew all the officers. They had a lake, a dog and herion. They probably had other drugs but he liked H. So now they put this man who is a user in a place where he can get anything. When he was in county in Los angeles, he told me to give this lady next to me 20.00 bucks. I said are you nuts? No It's for dope. Great, just what I wanted to know. So what are we doing for these men who go to prison because they user drugs? nothing but feeding their habit. There is more drugs in prison than on the streets and it's right in front of their faces. That's if they meet the right people and if there in prison long enough they find out who's using. So all we are doing is take nice Joe and turn them in to a bad Jose. But no matter what anyone tells you they go to jail or prison cause it's a money making thing. The real scarey thing is they shared needles, oh he said they washed the needle out with beach. I sure hope they did... So if this is what the war on drug is all about why not just sell it in the corner store and taxes it....You know America is a king pin in the drug game..Because if america wanted to stop drugs they would. Look what happen to booze in the 20's....That's my story...It's a rude awaking to prison life...huggs...minnie:cool:

My husband has been in a federal prison for 13 years ... since he was 18. He received a LIFE sentence w/o parole for "conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute." He didn't have a possession charge. It's the most obsene thing I have ever heard of. He has only one chance at freedom, clemency from the President of the U.S. Can you guess what the chances of that are? SLIM to NONE. This has been a nightmare for our family. Our son has NEVER seen him in the free world. When he was born my husband had been in prison for 3 months. Life for conspiracy ... it still blows me away.

I have been hit by the war on drugs. Ive been an addict since my teens and finished up a term in the feds(lompoc) for aiding abbetting a conspiracy. Yes drugs are destructive im here to tell you but prison is as destructive to families. Did going to prison change me yes and no. I no longer sell to support my habit but i do on occasion use and ive been in 3 different rehabs including the rdap in the feds. I dont have any answers to the tough questions but it is obvious that prison even with rehabs doesnt get the job done. maybe we all are doomed by the mistakes we made along time before we went away. after 5 years sober to be kept awake thinking about drugs and getting high and the drug nightmares that accompany these times the only relief i seem to find is in drugs. i know its a cop out but to me it seemed right at the time anyway until us addicts quit pulling the stuff we pull to get high we will keep going back thats is a fact.

I have a brother not by blood but we grew up together parents were best friends. He is addicted to crack, herion, coke weed and whatever else he can get his hands on. He is been released today. He spends more time in jail then on the outside. On the inside he function very well works does all the right things including not doing drugs. I can tell he will be out no longer then six months and get busted again for being high on something. he has spent half of his thirty years in jail started when he was like 12. No one addresses the problem with drugs they find for his crime which is stealing they would rather him be locked up. Everytime he gets arrested for stealing its to feed his drug problem and the police know this but no one wants to face the issuse locking him up is not the answer he finds more ways in there how to feed his drugs problem. I also have friend he just got busted there looking at giving him forty years for non violent possention of pot, what is wrong wiht the picture when people with violent back grounds get alot less time.

goanna,
I just dont understand the amont of time your brother is receiving. My husband friend just got busted in washinton non violence no weapons and is looking at forty years for pot. In canada our sentences would not be that long. They lock up but most people dont do over a year for drugs which i think they need to be in rehab more then they need to be in prison.


I agree with you 100%. My brother has been in prison nearly 3 years now and the drug problem in the little eastern Kentucky town did not improve by taking 31.3 years of his life unjustly. Not too long ago I posted a tread about having to tell my brother of the death of one of his neighbors--this morning he called to tell me another sibling had told him of the death of two more people from that small town. The drug war is a political farce which the federal government has allowed to continue for profit.

i think they are locking people up more for drugs then violent crimes against woman and children, what is wrong with that picture. I think they need to start changing the laws. California now says instead of locking them up going to put them through programs more states need to look at that. 31.3 years is a long time same with my husbands friend of forty years in federal.

well let me tell you guys something. i went friday night with my bro to see his month old baby inthe hospital. he was born month ago and is a addicted to crack and meth. it was the hardest thing i have ever seen. I have two babys of my own and thank god ive never used drugs in my life. they were giving the baby injections of morphin to help him wiht his withdrawels. to me that would be a wake up call to never do drugs again but like i said im not a drug user. I cried when i seen the baby have the shakes and withdrawls it was worse then a adult going through one. thanks for listening

Government research has many times over proven the cost of treatment for addicted offenders would many times over pay for itself. However, incarceration has became big business in this country.And it goes far beyond the two multi-million dollar companies that are raking the bucks for housing our loved ones.There are now outside industries setting up shop inside prisons and the inmates are forced to work for a few cents an hour, doing jobs that someone on the street would make good money for. I had rather see the jobs go over seas, at least they pay the children they exploit a little more than our inmates are recieving. Still, it does not stop here. Think of all those nice people our tax dollars are supporting, so they can devote thier time locking up hardened criminals, like the Daddy who comes home from work and smokes a joint.These folks, lawyers, judges, cops, clerks,prison gaurds, etc. all feed the U.S.economy in other ways, such as the purchase of office materials, the annual purchase of new patrol cars, equipment,thier personal expenditures, etc.The phone companies and the prisons are getting fat off our money everytime a loved one calls us. I understand the Blue Mist Motel in Arizona takes full advantage of being the only motel in a prison town, charging $65 per night knowing full well if someone is stuck with the rate, it is likely to be someone who is too poor to own a car to drive themselves.I know there are many more such places around the country. We spend money on gas to visit and rooms to stay overnight. We feed covience stores and fast food restraunts. Book stores and magazine companies adore us and whoever gets lucky enough to supply the commisaries always earn the best profit possible.The proof has been in for years that long term substance abuse treatment dramatically increases an offenders chances of making it upon release. But noone will ever get all the people in this country that ride this gravy train to step aside and allow enough treatment programs to be put into place to do any good. I spent months in a macro econmics class to figure out just why things seem so screwed up in the system. The answer when the fat cats are making money it does not matter whether something is just or even sensible. It is allowed to become an integral part of our economy.Thus, it has to be allowed to continue nomatter how ludicrous it may be. Consider that since the 70's we have went from 250,000 inmates in the U.S. to around 2 million with no less than 75% of them in for drug related crime. Then, take into account that probably close to that number of jobs for people here in the free world would be somehow immediately affected by a sudden dramatic change in the incarceration rate.This would create a sort of ripple effect across the country. Noone in government is going to allow that change and chance this event happening, nor chance the stock they own in all the businesses prison families are supporting dropping in value. It is sad, but true there will be little change in the system and if it comes it will come slowly. So what the drug war has been and is doing for this entire country is destroying lives and costing outrageous sums of money that could be better spent on treatment, but won't.

This subject is a very fitting one for me. I have had two brothers (out of 5) in prison in Oklahoma because of their use of and intent to distribute crank.(crystal, meth, ice...whatever you want to call it) I don't even know where to start. These two brothers were in trouble since they were teenagers. They would sneak away from home, steal stuff, drink, and do marijuana. They both went to reform school as teenagers. However, as the years went on, they continued to get in trouble. They had DUIs, marijuana charges, etc., etc., etc. The oldest of the two, Jimmy, started doing methamphetamine when he was in his twenties after he was diagnosed with a rare form of emphysema caused by an enzyme deficiency in the lungs. He kind of went off the deep end. He started shooting instead of just snorting or smoking. Well, he ended up going to jail on a possession charge and an illegal weapon charge. It turned out that they younger of the two, Ronnie, was willing to bail him out of jail if he went to rehab. At that time, Ronnie was working hard in the oilfield and making a name for himself that way. He still did marijuana and he even dabbled in selling it. Anyway, Jimmy, went to rehab for about 6 months. He came out clean and sober and stayed that way for a little while. Eventually, he got back into it. He also drank whiskey every day and stayed high on whatever else he could get his hands on. In the meantime, Ronnie had saved up a lot of money from working and all that and he ended up being able to start his own company with a couple of rigs and stuff. He wasn't selling mj anymore, but was still smoking it. He was always very strictly against meth. Jimmy spent the next 10 years doing crank off and on, being in and out of county jail on little charges. He was shot once by his wife's mother when he and his wife got into an argument. He was shot in the leg and had to be hospitalized and have surgery to repair the leg. Let's see, time went on. Ronnie got into crank. He started using heavily and started getting deeper and deeper into trouble. It ended up ruining his marriage of 21 years. Jimmy went to prison in December of 2002 for charges of possession and possession with intent to distribute CDS. I'm still unclear if he was distributing mj or crank, but know one of the possession charges was for crank. At the time when Jimmy went to jail, I didn't have much contact with him. His lifestyle was just not conducive to having me and my family around him. I didn't want to endanger my children or myself by going to his home which was usually full of drunks and druggies. Then, in December of 2003, my other brother, Ronnie went to prison for the exact same charges. I do know that his "intent" charge was based on crank, not mj. Anyway, they both got 5 years. When Ronnie was incarcerated, it really hit home for me. How could this person who was totally against crank be in jail for using and distributing it? I decided to contact Jimmy and to stay in touch with Ronnie. I knew that they both must be really needing family at that time. I am ashamed it took me so long to come around on Jimmy, but am so thankful that I made contact when I did. Jimmy was to be up for parole this past July. As it turned out, he found out he had cancer while incarcerated. In June, he found out it was terminal within 6 months. His parole hearing in July turned out to be changed to a medical commutation hearing. He was released on August 5, 2004 and he died at our parents' home on October 15, 2004. So, you see, the 10 months that Jimmy and I had to write letters to each other and see each other during prison visitations and then at our parents' home after he was released is all I have left now. I was so happy to know that Jimmy had gone through a very good rehab program in jail and truly wanted to change his life and show that he could use the things he learned in that program to stay clean on the outside. Even before he knew he had cancer, he would write about things he was going to do on the outside and about how he prayed for himself and our family. It just seems so unfair to me that Jimmy got what I feel was a life sentence for his involvement in drugs. He didn't die in prison only because I fought the system tooth and nail until they got him approved for medical commute. He might have died if he had been on the outside when all of this happened, but I have to believe that he would have gotten care a lot sooner and maybe he wouldn't have been at Stage IV lung cancer with metastases all over his body when they found out about it.. Maybe if he hadn't been in prison, he could have found out at Stage 1 and been able to have surgery or something. Of course, I will never know. The other scenario is that if he hadn't gone to prison, he might have died from the drugs or something else. Who knows. Ronnie is still in and he is in a minimum security facility awaiting a work center assignment. He was denied any of the rehab programs because they are all so full that they are only accepting court-ordered inmates. Isn't that crazy? Let's lock him up for drug use and distribution, but not give him any rehab program to help him change his way of thinking.

I don't know what the Drug War has done for me, but I know that drugs cost one of my brothers his life (either directly or indirectly depending on how you look at it...), and cost another brother - his wife, his business, his chance to say goodbye to his dying brother, his chance to go to his brother's funeral, his chance to go to his daughter's g