Comments on: If He Outgrew It, What Is He Doing in My Prison?

By: Pete Quily

Pete Quily — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:57:16 +0000

wow Liza that’s too bad. If one doc takes you off meds you might next time change to another doctor instead of taking illegal drugs. Pretty costly error you made. But there are non stimulant medications for ADHD, not sure if they’re available in jail but they are out of jail, so there’s always hope. Nelson Mandela was in jail for 18 years and he made an amazing positive impact on his community, his country and the world after getting out. There is always hope.

By: Liza

Liza — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:07:47 +0000

I am currently waiting criminal cort trial for posession of methamphettemine, only my charge in sell and supply because the amount i was caught with wa over 2 grams. I was diaganosed with adhd several years ago and was placed on medication, It changed my life, I felt as if some one had switched on a light in my brain.I have acomplished so much in the past few years while on medication and for once understood how wonderfull life was. About 8 months ago I was taken of my medication because of some mistake my dr made. I imeditaly started to experence problems in my life like before and turned to illeagly self medicating. This help and I again picked up the peaces of my life and begun to live again. unfortunatly I got busted. my whole life now seems to have been for nothing as I will most likley spend the next ten years in jail. I have no prospect in ever being alowed to recieve leagle medication by the health dep again, even if i were not going to jail. Either way I feel I have come to the end of my existance as a life with out legal medication, a lengthy jail sentence with no prospect of ever being able to legally obtain medication once released, my life is just not worth living. I am pleased to have had the few years I did on leagle drugs as atleast I was able to experence some great times. I felt I ad a lot to offer the world once but now just wish I could go to sleep and never wake up.

By: Pete Quily

Pete Quily — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:29:33 +0000

Susan

“As the majority of offenders in prisons committed crimes while high or intoxicated~self medication at it’s very worst~and a prime component in many ADHDers history, I’m constantly amazed that the issue of treatment for this issue isn’t understood as the cost of preventive proactive therapy for this issue would certainly be so minimal compared to the cost of long term incarceration.”

Unfortunately it isn’t understood because people with ADHD don’t tell the politicians, media and health bureaucrats about the connections and raise awareness. the more that do that, the more people will gradually clue in.

Kyle

yes meds can be very useful also important to develop self awareness and self mangement skills. I agree ADDers can accomplish great things check out this category on my blog
http://adultaddstrengths.com/category/add-strengths/

Donna,

you might get him some books, audio tapes or websites on ADHD so even if he can’t get meds he can start somewhere. there’s a book called adhd and the criminal justice system spinning out of control
http://www.amazon.com/ADHD-Criminal-Justice-System-Spinning/dp/1594578605

it can easily be discouraging, but if you quit they win. don’t reward ignorance and stigma

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:42:55 +0000

I just went on to read more of your site and saw this:
“”oh you can’t have ADD, you did OK in school.”)
When our family member finally got to a Dr…..had to wait until AGE 18, as he couldn’t get permission to go………the Dr. said
“Why do you want medicine for ADD……………..you’re not in school anymore…………YOU QUIT!”

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:35:56 +0000

I’m so glad I read this. It’s good to find ONE PERSON who gets it. I’m here because I have a close family member sitting in jail as we speak. He has ability, but was unable to succeed in school. He hit all the brick walls as you all know about and was finally getting some relief with Adderall. He has had the SPECT scans and everything…has all the documentation……….but guess what;
the men at the jail “watch him” and don’t see that he needs it. If he causes a disturbance, they might rethink it. Think about it…..we know what they’d “rethink.” The last five years have been wasted and he is prepared for nothing. I’m here because I’m searching all over for help.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:11:41 +0000

This article is very personal to me because I went to juvie for a little over a week and had a wake up call. I was a senior in high school and ended up in juvie for basically an incident that could be described as an impulsive rage. I am a good kid and would have never seen myself there, but actually going there made me realize how easy it really is to get there. But I agree that having add makes a person more likely to end up in prison. I recently started medication, Vyanse, and am a sophmore in college. I whole heartedly believe that medication is the way to go if a young adult realizes symptoms havent gone away completely. I don’t want to be 50 years old and look back and say “Wow, its already over, and I don’t ever remember wanting to come down this path.” People with add, at least myself, are passionate people that if given the chance to apply themselves, can accomplish great things!

By: Susan E. Van Hyning

Susan E. Van Hyning — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:21:00 +0000

This is EXACTLY what I’ve been saying and any open minded and knowledgeable therapist understands-my therapist Ellis Berkowitz truly ‘gets it’. I recently received my driving privileges back after a second DUI-well over 3.7. During the preparation for my trial/sentencing I was told that if I were to be sentenced to the 45 jail time, I would not be permitted to take my prescribed meds, given through the Veterans Administration for depression and my ADHD as they weren’t authorized and only seen as ’speed’. Even with a doctors testament and documented history of proper usage for a specific condition. The jail time was something I was completely prepared for, but the withholding of my meds for even 45 days was a nightmare. I was appalled. I was even informed by my therapist that IF they permitted me to take my antidepressants, it would be ‘whatever they had available’. Not my prescribed med. Baffling at best and gross incompetence at worst on the part of the Courts/Correctional Agencies, in reality.

I’m one of the lucky ones. I ended up with a very ‘mental health oriented’ judge. Who permitted me to fulfill my sentence with all home confinement, in order for me to remain on my meds and go to all my therapy and VA appointments.

My therapist tells me of one patient who was well into recovery for her issues but when she returned from a short jail sentence she was in worse shape then when he first began seeing her. Medication had been withheld during her jail time. And of another youth client he had, who was in juvenile court camp for numerous violations. Not being given his meds he would make progress and work toward completing his time but inevitably would ‘act out’ incurring additional time. Virtually running a race with one foot nailed to the ground.

As the majority of offenders in prisons committed crimes while high or intoxicated~self medication at it’s very worst~and a prime component in many ADHDers history, I’m constantly amazed that the issue of treatment for this issue isn’t understood as the cost of preventive proactive therapy for this issue would certainly be so minimal compared to the cost of long term incarceration.

By: If He Outgrew It, What Is He Doing in My Prison? « Bob’s ADHD Blog

If He Outgrew It, What Is He Doing in My Prison? « Bob’s ADHD Blog — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:57:56 +0000

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