This is a sad state of affairs on aiding meth addicts in this jail. AA is not working, and even the few who have recovered in the county Jail Alcoholics Anonymous are rejecting meth addicts. They do not want anything to do with them! One can hope they can come up with a better solution for these meth addicts than 12 step programs! They should check out www.smartrecovery.org
Advisory Board discusses challenges of inmate treatment
Officials say efforts to rehabilitate jail inmates charged with meth offenses have fallen short. But they agree to maintain focus.
Key St. Joseph County officials admit efforts to rehabilitate jail inmates charged with methamphetamine-related offenses have fallen short.But on Wednesday, members of the St. Joseph County Community Corrections Advisory Board agreed for the need to maintain focus on the effort.
Meeting for the first time since May, board members were told by District Court Judge Jeff Middleton that a rehab effort called “Meth Men in Jail” is a work in progress.
Available to inmates who are unable to post bond, are soon to be sentenced or already have been sentenced, Meth Men in Jail has not had a formal evaluation. But a number of board members on Wednesday indicated rehab for inmates serving time on meth charges needs a better focus. We’re open to suggestions because what we’ve been doing … it just isn’t working,” Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said. “It’s an epidemic.”
Meth Men in Jail, a pilot program, was to start last year but the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County experienced a complete turnover of staff shortly before and at the time the program was to be implemented, according to Doug Lockwood, adult services director for the agency. It remains in the early stages and an update about the program was to be given Wednesday, but substance-abuse supervisor Spencer Price was unable to attend the meeting.
Board member Eddie Mackay, who leads a weekly alcohol-recovery program at the jail, said no matter what approach the county takes toward rehab attempts, words from recovered meth addicts could be the most effective strategy. Although he offered to facilitate such a strategy, Mackay said finding someone willing to share their experience about struggles with meth could be a challenge in itself.
“I know some recovered meth guys (in the county jail Alcoholics Anonymous program) and I’ve asked them why they don’t help the meth addicts,” Mackay said. “They say they just don’t want anything to do with those guys.” Mackay’s point was in response to a comment made by Prosecutor John McDonough, who said the largest obstacle inmates face upon their release is a lack of support trying to stay clean and in a positive environment.
“They don’t have a support group to turn to when they’re done with jail,” McDonough said. “The people they go back to are the same people they got in trouble with in the first place.”
Mackay said a 12-step program, similar to the procedure adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous, would be a good template to follow for a meth-recovery program.Middleton said in light of the need to resolve a number of matters, including the status of the jail’s meth-recovery program, the board will meet again next month. A tentative date of Sept. 19 was set.
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This self-righteous attitude is pervasive with many Alcoholics Anonymous members and groups. Contrary to their basic principle and premise of compassion for those suffering from addiction, many AA members and groups have deluded themselves into believing that being an alcohol addict makes them somehow superior to those who have addictions to other substances or coexisting addictions.
I have personally consoled more than a few people who came to me in deep despair, some crying and feeling utterly demoralized after being rejected by the VOLUSIA COUNTY INTERGROUP SERVICES, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS “SUNRISE GROUP.”
The Alcoholics Anonymous” SUNRISE GROUP ” has for years monopolized our park/ playground every Sunday on a weekly basis, disregarding their 7th tradition by inappropriately setting up shop In a park to conduct their business for free and chain smoke.
I remember one lady sobbing and literally trembling as though she had never been so degraded as she told the story I had heard before from others. She was a true Alcoholic who was trying very hard to quit drinking. I saw her before the meeting and sensed her sincerity and vulnerability as I wished her all the best. She came back after the meeting trying to tell me, through her tears and in between gasps for breath, how she had just been heartlessly rejected by a lady who was chairing the meeting.
This was because in addition to being an alcoholic she had mentioned that she had used drugs before as well. The chairwoman, with a cold indignant, superior and self-righteous air, made it clear that she did not belong there with the “ SUNRISE GROUP ” or even with Alcoholics Anonymous in general.
Even though she was a longtime alcoholic she was rejected and told to go to Narcotics Anonymous from now on!
I’ll never forget how low that lady felt after that rejection! She was so sincerely hopeful and inspired when we talked before the meeting and came back from the meeting so completely demoralized and devastated. UNCONSCIONABLE !