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[edit] just to round out context, this story was told while putting locked down chrome books (better than just books I guess) and secure networking in the priso

[edit] just to round out context, this story was told while putting locked down chrome books (better than just books I guess) and secure networking in the prison so that inmates can learn trade skills and even coding (at zero cost for use to the inmates as well). Please don’t mistake any of the below for lack of respect and care A nearby prison had inmates routinely high, a huge black eye on the warden and staff. For the life of them they couldn't figure out how anyone was smuggling narcotics until one day they caught an inmate smoking a page of the Holy Bible. So the inmates were getting printed religious materials soaked in heroin (thank you generous spirit) and then ripping them out to enjoy. This prison went the somewhat charitable route to scan all letters, books and documents, but it does go to show that stories / headlines that appear absurd on the surface are usually just as absurd underneath.

Bud 5y ago
Guess what: inmates are going to get high regardless of whether idiotic book bans are put in place or not. That being the case, it's clearly better to allow the books than not.
- CoastalCoder 5y ago
  You make an interesting point. > "(As an aside, learn to spell "heroin".)" Just my 2 cents, but I think that phrasing may come across as harsh. Keeping things civil is a big part of keeping HN's discussions interesting.
  - Avshalom 5y ago
    When discussing horrifying moral stains on a country maybe 'keeping [it] interesting' isn't a real high priority for some people.
  - Bud 5y ago
    You're right, it was too harsh and I have deleted it. I guess I just get a little upset about drug-policy moralizing from people who, well, can't spell the name of the drug in question. But I still should have been more civil
    - anonymouse008 5y ago
      Again, I appreciate your help in this arena. For context, the story was told in 'dope' form, so I did edit that at least. I have no specific morality with drugs and thought it was so sad to see the product of what we have collectively built, so I was happy to play a small part in righting those wrongs. And yes, written on a mobile device so not the best proofreading, nor am I a perfect writer (re And).
- kingcharles 5y ago
  This is absolutely true. There is nothing else to do. The incarcerated people will always, always find a way to get stuff in. Shit, I even saw one lawyer bringing in weed for his client. That was fucked up. I wouldn't risk my license for that.
  - runarberg 5y ago
    And it probably becomes even more true if there is nothing for the prisoners to do all day except getting high.
wesleywt 5y ago
What is absurd is banning books because of a few unsubstantiated stories.
- Supermancho 5y ago
  I'll guess you're so sure of your worldview that it wasn't worth a google search. SMH The stories of paper goods (including mail) being soaked is prevalent.
  - Talanes 5y ago
    Googled it. I found some vague references to it having happened, or having been stopped in the act, but not like a news report. The more prevalent an idea is without having any actual evidence, the less I trust it.
    - adolph 5y ago
      Seems like a real thing: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/crime/fl-ne-fugitive-roy-kahn-kingpin-pimp-smuggled-dope-federal-prison-20190924-xgwxe5fz3rf77ijjn2aqh5kydy-story.html https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/crime/fl-ne-fugitive-roy-k... Someone was mailing drugs into federal prisons, disguising papers soaked in MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), fentanyl, synthetic marijuana and Suboxone, an opioid dependence treatment, as confidential legal communication in order to sneak them past guards. https://www.npr.org/2021/07/15/1015447281/overdose-deaths-state-prisons-increase https://www.npr.org/2021/07/15/1015447281/overdose-deaths-st... Friends and family can tuck strips of paper soaked with drugs into mail or books, and if they get past the mail room, people in prison can eat them, or roll them up and smoke them. https://bangordailynews.com/2020/06/25/news/state/3-maine-women-charged-with-selling-heroin-as-part-of-new-york-to-maine-drug-ring/ https://bangordailynews.com/2020/06/25/news/state/3-maine-wo... Three Maine women have been accused of being associates to a New York City street gang called the Bullies that allegedly used vehicles with hidden compartments and comic book pages soaked in narcotics as part of their multi-state distribution of cocaine, heroin, guns and money between Maine and New York for 3 ½ years. Found on first page of: https://www.google.com/search?q=heroin+soaked+book https://www.google.com/search?q=heroin+soaked+book
ProjectArcturis 5y ago
"secure networking" Hey, that's some great real-world pentesting experience!
- anonymouse008 5y ago
  The things the users found have been near miraculous
cortesoft 5y ago
Man, if I was stuck in prison all day every day, I'd want to be on drugs, too. I can't blame the prisoners.
kingcharles 5y ago
OK, so I just got out of jail. It's not heroin on the pages. It's "K2", but actually no-one I met really knows what the fuck they are smoking most of the time. They tend to assume it is just roach spray on the paper, which actually means it is legal: https://lumierehealingcenters.com/2018/07/12/drug-alert-smoking-raid-bug-spray/ https://lumierehealingcenters.com/2018/07/12/drug-alert-smok... At the Cook County Jail, that I just left, it was upwards of 80% of the population that are smoking it on a daily basis in some areas. The effects can be devastating. I saw people "die" and need to be brought back by Narcan. I saw many, many people acting like they were on PCP, going crazy. This is bad for your cell block as if the guard sees it he's going to call in a really heavy shakedown for everyone. I saw many people simply OD and go comatose but eventually recover after having water poured over them repeatedly. One letter-sized page makes about $8000 for the person that gets it in. They tear it up into what we call "strips" which are about the area of a dime. You get the thin wrapping paper that covers a toilet roll and use that as rolling paper and then tear the strip up into little pieces and light the whole thing. Never touched the stuff myself. Oh, and it's basically undetectable, which is the reason it gets into the prisons so easy. The stuff I've seen while I was inside had no colouration on the paper, had no smell etc. The dogs can't sniff it - I was told by the handler that it's because they are not trained in it.

Bud 5y ago

Guess what: inmates are going to get high regardless of whether idiotic book bans are put in place or not. That being the case, it's clearly better to allow the books than not.

CoastalCoder 5y ago
You make an interesting point. > "(As an aside, learn to spell "heroin".)" Just my 2 cents, but I think that phrasing may come across as harsh. Keeping things civil is a big part of keeping HN's discussions interesting.
- Avshalom 5y ago
  When discussing horrifying moral stains on a country maybe 'keeping [it] interesting' isn't a real high priority for some people.
- Bud 5y ago
  You're right, it was too harsh and I have deleted it. I guess I just get a little upset about drug-policy moralizing from people who, well, can't spell the name of the drug in question. But I still should have been more civil
  - anonymouse008 5y ago
    Again, I appreciate your help in this arena. For context, the story was told in 'dope' form, so I did edit that at least. I have no specific morality with drugs and thought it was so sad to see the product of what we have collectively built, so I was happy to play a small part in righting those wrongs. And yes, written on a mobile device so not the best proofreading, nor am I a perfect writer (re And).
kingcharles 5y ago
This is absolutely true. There is nothing else to do. The incarcerated people will always, always find a way to get stuff in. Shit, I even saw one lawyer bringing in weed for his client. That was fucked up. I wouldn't risk my license for that.
- runarberg 5y ago
  And it probably becomes even more true if there is nothing for the prisoners to do all day except getting high.

wesleywt 5y ago

What is absurd is banning books because of a few unsubstantiated stories.

Supermancho 5y ago
I'll guess you're so sure of your worldview that it wasn't worth a google search. SMH The stories of paper goods (including mail) being soaked is prevalent.
- Talanes 5y ago
  Googled it. I found some vague references to it having happened, or having been stopped in the act, but not like a news report. The more prevalent an idea is without having any actual evidence, the less I trust it.
  - adolph 5y ago
    Seems like a real thing: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/crime/fl-ne-fugitive-roy-kahn-kingpin-pimp-smuggled-dope-federal-prison-20190924-xgwxe5fz3rf77ijjn2aqh5kydy-story.html https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/crime/fl-ne-fugitive-roy-k... Someone was mailing drugs into federal prisons, disguising papers soaked in MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), fentanyl, synthetic marijuana and Suboxone, an opioid dependence treatment, as confidential legal communication in order to sneak them past guards. https://www.npr.org/2021/07/15/1015447281/overdose-deaths-state-prisons-increase https://www.npr.org/2021/07/15/1015447281/overdose-deaths-st... Friends and family can tuck strips of paper soaked with drugs into mail or books, and if they get past the mail room, people in prison can eat them, or roll them up and smoke them. https://bangordailynews.com/2020/06/25/news/state/3-maine-women-charged-with-selling-heroin-as-part-of-new-york-to-maine-drug-ring/ https://bangordailynews.com/2020/06/25/news/state/3-maine-wo... Three Maine women have been accused of being associates to a New York City street gang called the Bullies that allegedly used vehicles with hidden compartments and comic book pages soaked in narcotics as part of their multi-state distribution of cocaine, heroin, guns and money between Maine and New York for 3 ½ years. Found on first page of: https://www.google.com/search?q=heroin+soaked+book https://www.google.com/search?q=heroin+soaked+book

ProjectArcturis 5y ago

"secure networking" Hey, that's some great real-world pentesting experience!

anonymouse008 5y ago
The things the users found have been near miraculous

cortesoft 5y ago

Man, if I was stuck in prison all day every day, I'd want to be on drugs, too. I can't blame the prisoners.

kingcharles 5y ago

OK, so I just got out of jail. It's not heroin on the pages. It's "K2", but actually no-one I met really knows what the fuck they are smoking most of the time. They tend to assume it is just roach spray on the paper, which actually means it is legal: https://lumierehealingcenters.com/2018/07/12/drug-alert-smoking-raid-bug-spray/ https://lumierehealingcenters.com/2018/07/12/drug-alert-smok... At the Cook County Jail, that I just left, it was upwards of 80% of the population that are smoking it on a daily basis in some areas. The effects can be devastating. I saw people "die" and need to be brought back by Narcan. I saw many, many people acting like they were on PCP, going crazy. This is bad for your cell block as if the guard sees it he's going to call in a really heavy shakedown for everyone. I saw many people simply OD and go comatose but eventually recover after having water poured over them repeatedly. One letter-sized page makes about $8000 for the person that gets it in. They tear it up into what we call "strips" which are about the area of a dime. You get the thin wrapping paper that covers a toilet roll and use that as rolling paper and then tear the strip up into little pieces and light the whole thing. Never touched the stuff myself. Oh, and it's basically undetectable, which is the reason it gets into the prisons so easy. The stuff I've seen while I was inside had no colouration on the paper, had no smell etc. The dogs can't sniff it - I was told by the handler that it's because they are not trained in it.