Untitled-333 by Jay Goodman

I have just written two chapters about the federal prison system, handing out synthetic heroin to prisoners. As crazy as this may sound, it’s absolutely true. I look at the madness of their decision, and it’s truly amazing to me that this has been kept a secret from the news channels in the newspapers. I am sitting in prison, and have been in here for over 17 years, and this by far is the craziest shit they have ever come up with. As I mentioned in one of my chapters already, most prisoners here have at least 10 years and up. There is no parole in the federal system. So if a guy has 10 years, he will do about eight years. So, if he starts using synthetic heroin now, he will be a full-blown addict by the time he leaves. Call me stupid, but wouldn’t it be a better idea to rehabilitate this man for eight years? I mean he would be clean for all these years, that is a lot of sobriety under his belt. And if he was put through programming for these years, and given the right rehabilitation, instead of leaving here, being addicted for eight years, he would’ve been clean all these years. There is something about this program that makes sense. I know one man here that has a 30-year sentence m, by the time he leaves he will have been a synthetic heroin user for a quarter of a century.

I’d like to ask a question to the people running the prison system. Why even have drug treatment programs in here question because it’s really a joke. Here at this prison, there are over 500 prisoners taking Suboxone with 100 on a waiting list. Pretty soon out of the 1600 prisoners here damn near half are on Suboxone. With the numbers growing by the day. I wouldn’t doubt if in the near future almost the entire prison will be on synthetic heroin. Now these men will have to take drug classes for what? So, you can tell them how bad drugs are? I mean, if you have over half the population on synthetic heroin, in one breath, your teaching prisoners, how dangerous drugs are, and then, two hours later, you’re giving them a strip of Suboxone. Heroin and fentanyl is addictive and dangerous, but this Suboxone is OK, because we’re giving it to you.

They of course know it’s addictive as heroin. I have sat here and wondered what’s next? I mean there is a very serious problem in our country with methamphetamine. Are they going to start handing out synthetic meth? What about all the people who smoke K-2? People are falling out all over our country and dying from K-2 in all the prisons. From what I’ve seen more are dying and going to the emergency room from K-2, in here than heroin. Are they going to come up with some kind of synthetic vape? What about something for all the people who smoke marijuana? Why all of this may seem like I’m being a smart ass. But hell, why not? Who would’ve ever dreamed in their right mind the federal Bureau of prisons would be giving the prisoners in their care synthetic heroin? How can you believe by putting the men and women in prison on an addictive drug for years or decades is going to be rehabilitating? Call me stupid, but shouldn’t their number one goal be to get everyone in here off of drugs? Not put them on something that will turn them into an addict. I have said these many times throughout my 17 years of incarceration. The prison system is not set up to rehabilitate the prisoners in their care, and if anyone doubts that I suggest you look over everything I’ve written about over the years. I have really looked at everything around me over the years and it’s sad to see the destruction that goes on in here. Now with his giving prisoner synthetic heroin, I can only imagine what’s going to happen.

Why understand there is a serious problem with opioids in our country. There is over 100,000 people dying every year from overdoses, mostly fentanyl. And why everyone may think something has to be done to stop it. Which I agree. Putting people in prison on synthetic heroin is not the answer. In fact, they are probably hurting more people than they realize. For one, remember a lot of people in here have 10 years and up. If these prisons would be off drugs, all these years, they might come to the conclusion, they don’t need to be high anymore. After all the longer people are off drugs, I would assume the better off they would be. Plus, how many people are the federal Bureau of prisons going to turn into addicts? Because I know people who don’t even and use opioids and are going down to get on the synthetic heroin just to get high. So, the prison system will be creating a junkie, how much sense does that make? I am just a prisoner and I just see the complete madness in this. How could anyone in their right mind believe by giving synthetic Heroin to prisoners would be a good thing? Addicts on the street had terrible habits. And very often old habits get in the way, to a certain extent, can prevent us from choosing happiness. Also, old habits get in the way for Alex from getting off drugs. Why I do understand it’s difficult for prisoners who has serious drug problems. At least, by coming to prison they are put in a position that takes them away from the streets, and away from the life they lived by. And here they are forced into facing reality, and having years to form different habits. At a lot of times, by creating different habits, people begin to see there is more to life than staying high all day. The journey of the soul is difficult at times, especially for prisoners. Let’s face it, prisoners have a pass, and in most cases, it’s filled with regrets.

But because we are in here away from many of the things that helped us get here. It’s a good opportunity to build new habits. Plus, prisoners have obviously made a lot of bad decisions. And as prisoners begin to create new habits, usually their decision making begins to get better. This all happens when the people in here off of drugs. Yes, if they’ve been on drugs for years, it’s difficult for them at first. But as the years go by that difficulty gets less, and then it becomes easier as time goes by.

But this can only happen if the men and women have a clear mind, and a chance to grow. Keeping them hooked on synthetic heroin for years if not, decades will never help anyone in here. The prisoners are all high all the time will never grow or be anything productive in life. They came to prison, addicts, and now the lead Prison addicts. Does this make sense? Goals and plans bring out the most in the human spirit. How can the people in here have any kind of goal if the federal prison system has them addicted to synthetic heroin? I have seriously thought about this, and from my point of you, this program they’ve created have to be the worst it’s ever been put in the federal prison system.