5 ms·

If we want to see things began to change, we going to have to deal with this “variable.” Perhaps we should rethink our concept of incarcerating everyone found g

by cubano 10y ago

If we want to see things began to change, we going to have to deal with this “variable.” Perhaps we should rethink our concept of incarcerating everyone found guilty of using currently illegal drugs. Maybe we need to rethink about how long felony convictions stay attached to personal records. When you can’t even rent an apartment in many states because you were a felon, and in some cases simply because you were charged with a felony at some time in the past, is it any wonder that we have large numbers of people not participating in the labor force? With 20 million former felons in America, we have attached a large anchor to our economic growth rate, and we have unfairly burdened these men and women. Three months ago I was stopped in Vegas for jaywalking. I was (illegally) searched after not giving consent. I small amount of meth (which I was successfully using for cognitive enhancement for my job as a web app developer) and did 67 days in jail. I lost everything. All my possessions (I was living at a weekly and they only hold stuff for 30 days). My laptops, phones, clothes, monitor etc etc. I lost my well paying remote job that I had for 2 years and was probably the best job I've ever had. Worse, I lost the respect of my boss whom I enjoyed a fruitful and meaningful professional relationship with. The remote job was not easy to get as I have prior drug possession felonies in Florida. The idea of having to go through all the hoops to find steady work again 1. at my age 2. as a felon and 3. living in a homeless shelter is almost too much to deal with. So I am now homeless and unemployed. I am living at the Catholic Charities shelter on Las Vegas Blvd. I recently got a hold of a laptop and am trying to cobble together my resume and find some remote work as I don't drive (I couldn't afford it anyway). The point? It is going be almost impossible for me to replace the job I had, and in the meantime I'm suffering beyond all reasonable expectation for someone who simply was crossing the empty street with a small of amount of "drugs" on me. Was this the outcome society wants me to have? To wreck what small success I struggled to get over what amounted to an illegal search and seizure (that's my PD talking, not me)? Who was the victim of my "crime"? I have been using drugs for almost 40 years and am very experienced on their use for chronic pain relief and cognitive improvement, and to be honest I need it nowadays to keep my productivity high and to help with everything modern webdevs need to keep up with. So yeah..."Men Without Work" is an ugly issue that keeps free-spirited people like me fucked up for no real reason whatsoever.

goldenkey 10y ago
That really sucks. It seems you are pretty upfront with what happened and the shortcomings of it. But I'd like to reiterate what you should have done, so you don't make the same mistake twice: you should have gotten a script for adderall/ritalin or some other ADHD drug from a doctor. It's not difficult. I'm in the same boat as you. I have chronic pain and use both morphine and adderall therapeutically. But I have trouble reconciling that you've been using drugs for 40 years and still haven't switched over to legal ones. Street drugs are tainted, often cut, often not even the same substance you thought you purchased. I'm young and I've already learned this lesson. It's unfortunate that it took you 40 years but you'll get back on your feet. Switch to prescription drugs. Street drugs will cause kidney and liver damage, other organ damage. All kinds of terrible shit in them. Pharmaceuticals are exactly what you asked for. The FDA is stringent. There are regulations. Big pharma ain't evil, just get the pure stuff legally. Anyhow, did not mean to preach from the pulpit. I hope you get back on your feet and find a better routine without the unnecessary risk. Best, goldenkey
- exolymph 10y ago
  > you should have gotten a script for adderall/ritalin or some other ADHD drug from a doctor. It's not difficult. It is difficult to get a doctor to prescribe you those drugs when you have a history of using meth.
  - lovich 10y ago
    Depending on the area it'd be difficult to get without driving as well. I know around where I live you have to go to multiple different doctors in different areas to get any add medication, and they are not guarunteed to be close to each other or near mass transit
    - goldenkey 10y ago
      General physicians can refill ADD meds. You mainly need to see a psych to get the script started. You guys are making this out to be some kind of incredible task with an uphill battle. Most health insurance offer free transport to doctors appointments (check your brochure.) Medicaid and medicare always do. Otherwise, public transport or rideshare isnt gonna break your bank for 1 or two visits until your regular doctor will write the refills. Or the psych can give you 2 or 3 months worth of scripts which is often the case.

by cubano 10y ago

goldenkey 10y ago

That really sucks. It seems you are pretty upfront with what happened and the shortcomings of it. But I'd like to reiterate what you should have done, so you don't make the same mistake twice: you should have gotten a script for adderall/ritalin or some other ADHD drug from a doctor. It's not difficult. I'm in the same boat as you. I have chronic pain and use both morphine and adderall therapeutically. But I have trouble reconciling that you've been using drugs for 40 years and still haven't switched over to legal ones. Street drugs are tainted, often cut, often not even the same substance you thought you purchased. I'm young and I've already learned this lesson. It's unfortunate that it took you 40 years but you'll get back on your feet. Switch to prescription drugs. Street drugs will cause kidney and liver damage, other organ damage. All kinds of terrible shit in them. Pharmaceuticals are exactly what you asked for. The FDA is stringent. There are regulations. Big pharma ain't evil, just get the pure stuff legally. Anyhow, did not mean to preach from the pulpit. I hope you get back on your feet and find a better routine without the unnecessary risk. Best, goldenkey

exolymph 10y ago
> you should have gotten a script for adderall/ritalin or some other ADHD drug from a doctor. It's not difficult. It is difficult to get a doctor to prescribe you those drugs when you have a history of using meth.
- lovich 10y ago
  Depending on the area it'd be difficult to get without driving as well. I know around where I live you have to go to multiple different doctors in different areas to get any add medication, and they are not guarunteed to be close to each other or near mass transit
  - goldenkey 10y ago
    General physicians can refill ADD meds. You mainly need to see a psych to get the script started. You guys are making this out to be some kind of incredible task with an uphill battle. Most health insurance offer free transport to doctors appointments (check your brochure.) Medicaid and medicare always do. Otherwise, public transport or rideshare isnt gonna break your bank for 1 or two visits until your regular doctor will write the refills. Or the psych can give you 2 or 3 months worth of scripts which is often the case.