Don't call them jail. Call them indigent detox facilities. I can't define anyone's level of tolerance for suffering from alcoholism or addiction except for my own, and placating the situations do nothing in the way of insuring recovery. In fact, I've met people in recovery who've used up all available resources for sobriety, and still, ultimately died drunk. On this point, I will say it is quite possible and common to kill an addict with kindness.

I'm not in any way saying jails and rehabs are good for an addict. They're more of an unfortunate necessity. Getting clean/sober, yea, that'd be a really good thing, and probably thinking about how much damage abusing drugs/alcohol causes, yea that'd be a good idea too. I've met many an alcoholic addict however, that used up every possible resource, and even then, died drunk. The key element, "used up". That's just about what it takes for any addict to get it. In the mean time, their kids suffer, their family suffers, and of course the addict suffers too.

Sober since 6/16/03.

friend of mine is currently sitting at a court ordered rehab because he tested dirty while on probation. it's just punishment. it's not rehab. i went to that same place. it's the same as the prison based "rehab" except that at the place i went to and he is at now, one is allowed to wear free world clothes and use your own personal hygiene products. but otherwise it's the same form of punishment. there is no rehabilitation there.

they like to call their inmates "clients" as if they elected to come there to improve their lives. the only reason they opted for that program is because it is 6 months and free, versus the prison based program which is nine months and IN PRISON. sitting in groups all day long from the moment you wake until the time you go to bed. even the "free-time" is monitored and structured so that nobody is allowed to sleep or do "unapproved" free time activities. it's all punishment. it's designed to make the person miserable and dominate their spirit so they become compliant with the program guidelines and don't cause any disruptions for fear of being violated and returned to serve prison time.

the prison based rehab is not "prison time" as one would think. you are in prison uniform and under prison rules, etc. but the time you spend in the prison rehab and waiting to go to the prison rehab in the county jail doesn't count towards your sentence if you violate your probation again. some people spend upwards of a year doing the prison based rehab program because they have to wait for a bed to open up and then to catch chain out of the county jail to be processed into the prison system to begin doing the prison based rehab.

that's what the girl i like was looking at doing. but she changed her mind about that pretty quick and has decided to instead opt for taking her punishment like a big girl, forget going back on probation, just taking her sentence and doing the prison time.

my buddy who is at the county rehab was looking at a much longer sentence so he elected to try and finish his probation since he was nearly done anyway. he only had a month or less left to complete and he screwed up by testing dirty or something like that. IDIOT!! couldn't wait just a month longer to twist off proper like. the drugs have a powerful hold of that boy. he'll put any drug into his body too. he doesn't care so long as it gets him high. he doesn't have a true and sincere habit to any one drug in particular. trash can junkie, if it gets him high he'll put it in his body. not that he is better or worse than anyone because of that name "trash can junkie", that's just the term for someone who gets down like that. i'm not mad at him. i just can't relate. there are so many people like that too; trash can junkies... i dunno what makes them want any drug and not a particular one. i'm partial the one i use. if i can't get it, no other will suffice. there are some that will relieve the sickness, but none that will substitute for it.

ennywei, i probably said enough about rehabs in prison and county jail and all that.

suffice it to say, they don't work. the people who are there don't want to be and the possible few, who maybe just happen to be in that situation and also just by some slim miracle of a chance realize that they need help and truly do want to change, that are there can't get the proper guidance and direction they need to get better because the rest of the people there need to be constantly babysat to ensure they are following the guidelines and not misbehaving or causing disruptions, etc.. very very few people actually get better from any of those places. colossal waste of time and money. but hey, somebody has a job as a result and the suckers that want to prolong the misery of probation and take a second shot at trying to stay clean while on probation have their shot with those places. it's a trap, because they don't really want to get or stay better, they will start messing up as soon as they get back out on probation and before long they screw up again and this time they have to do their prison time. they should just get it over with in the first place. i never understood how all these people get to test dirty for probation multiple times before being violated. i tested dirty ONCE and i got revoked.

i am hated everywhere i go. i don't know what is that i do to inspire such hate from people. but eh, it's my lot in life.

Great job...congrats on your sobriety. That is a long time, and I think it's awesome, truly!

I guess I am still a bit confused to your opinion on my original post question. I feel that the money spent on housing young addicts could be better spent on actual rehabilitation, for those who want it, and I know some that do want help. Just the resources are not there. No money, no insurance, parents don't give a crap. So am asking would it be wiser to spend the money helping or just keep putting them in jail..do you know what I mean??