Hi. I'm an ex convict and call in to your blog a lot. I have read a lot lately about mental health and want to comment. I have been to prison quite a number of times. I have been clean for 19 months and was using Heroin; Valium and Spice. Yes I used in prison too.
Listen; if there are any kids out there reading this; DO NOT TOUCH DRUGS!
Taking Spice sent me round the twist and coming off Spice sent me in to deep depression. It's not good. A guy I was in prison with is now on a secure mental health ward because of the damage Spice did to him. So why did I use Spice in jail? Because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO!
I had every intention of sorting my head out on my last prison stretch but they banged me up with another junkie who smoked Spice nearly all day; everyday. But I could have always said; 'no' right?
Yes; but I am an addict and I am in a cell and can hardly walk away from what is going on in front of my nose. So I will go on now about the post by Carol and about how prisoners families can help their loved ones. They can't unless their loved ones want to help themselves.
I am sorry to read how all this affects the thousands of kids who through no fault of their own are put in this situation. When drugs are involved there will always be a revolving door back to jail.
I am 19 months clean and every single day is a battle. I get knocked back on job applications and sometimes think well what is the point; I might as well get high; but it is not the answer; and I try and convince myself every day that; getting high isn't the answer and it really isn't.
I don't know what else to say because the drill is like this; the prisons can't get on top of the drug epidemic and it is bad. The press only get to know snippets of what it is like.
All I can say is I am just sorry for prisoners families who are trying their best to help their loved ones in prison because it must be one hell of a rocky road and that is coming from someone who has been behind bars a lot. Carry on with the good work and carry on saying things as they are because there aren't many sites that do. Respect to all; Chris.