They thought they were going to rehab. They ended up in chicken plants (user search)
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  They thought they were going to rehab. They ended up in chicken plants (search mode)
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Author Topic: They thought they were going to rehab. They ended up in chicken plants  (Read 2594 times)
Badger
badger
Atlas Legend
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Posts: 40,490
United States


« on: October 20, 2017, 09:42:57 AM »

If drug use isn't punished, what would be the ramification? 
We'd be closer to having a functional riminal justice system.

Unfortunately, we have a criminal punishment system, which isn't the same thing. The guy here clearly wasn't going to benefit from rehab, forced or otherwise, since he wasn't ready to seek rehab.  So why did he agree to it? Why did he try to tough it out? Because if you want to ensure you're essentially unhireable for all but the shittiest of positions, and not even for some of those, get yourself a felony conviction on your record.

As an aside, I agree that those in rehab (or jail/prison) should not have cell phones, tho it is a pain thanks to how ubiquitous they've become in society.  However, it it is a scandal the high fees and limited availability they have for monitored phone use.

You ask why the guy sought rehab.  That answer is simple; he believed that this would be "easier time". 

Long term residential treatment isn't jail or prison, but guys like this guy don't make that distinction in their minds.  at CAAIR,, the guy was on Probarion; he was not an inmate, and he could walk away or opt to leave treatment.  There would be legal consequences to that, to be sure, but it's not jail.  He knew that as well going in.  He took rehab because he wouldn't be locked up, would be able to go to work, would be able to have a number of creature comforts not available in jail or prison, would be allowed some free time away from the facility, etc.  He wouldn't be a prisoner, wouldn't be subject to the proximity of the worst of the worst, and would be in a facility where the offenders would be classified as non-violent offenders.  That's "easy time". 

Treatment and 12-Step groups are two (2) different concepts.  Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are for folks who want to stop drinking/using; what they do is geared for folks with that mindset.  Treatment, on the other hand, deals with folks who need to stop using, but don't necessarily want to stop using.  Part of any treatment program involves confronting denial as to the seriousness of the client's condition and the likelihood of progressive negative consequences if they continue to use or resume using.  The treatment environment is supposed to help folks come to this realization.

What a lot of clients are not willing to do is make the kind of lifestyle changes needed to sustain alcohol/drug abstinence.  Some folks want to keep drinking alcohol, or just smoke weed; they're not committed to a drug-free lifestyle.  Others are willing to be sober, but they don't want to make other lifestyle changes.  They don't want to stop hanging out in bars or clubs, or ditch old friends.  They don't want to end relationships with significant others who are either (A) drinkers and users at their level, or (B) are toxic to them in other ways (e. g. domestic violence, uncontrolled behavioral health issues).

I remember the time a guy in my group was giving his "going home" presentation.  He was saying all the right things.  Out of the blue, a guy in the group (this took real guts) said, "Bull----!  You're goin' up to see your old girlfriend and get laid!"  After he got over ranting in anger that his cover was blown, he was confronted about the fact that right about the time he and she were both naked, she'd be pulling out a cocaine rock and a pipe; at that point, the sight of drugs and paraphernalia would render him unable to resist joining her in usage.  Treatment educates folks to see these situations as high risk.  Role play exercises can actually simulate the thoughts and feelings folks will experience if they put themselves in high risk situations.  But some folks don't want to pay the price for lifestyle change.

This guy was one of those people.  The Judge was right; he didn't have a work ethic, and while there are addicts and alcoholics that do have a work ethic, this guy did not want his life structured to where he had to work 40 hours a week.  He did not want anyone to tell him how to spend his money, and he did not feel obligated to pull his own weight, let alone support dependents.  That was the REAL issue with the "chicken farm"; he HAD to work, and he couldn't just call in sick like he did when he was in active addiction. 

This guy deserved to go to jail.  He wasn't remorseful, didn't take responsibility, and gamed the system.  I consider his entire story suspect.

Fuzzy bear, your overall General analysis is correct, but your application to this real world situation it shows incredibly bad judgement. Yes, malingering is hardly uncommon with individuals wanting to do treatment because of problems with the legal system. Yes, this guy definitely screwed up and deserved sanctions by the judicial system. Yes, gainful employment is an important part of recovery because, in my experience the old cliche about Idle Hands being the devil's handiwork is really true. Clients of mine who have gainful employment and can throw themselves into it as much as possible don't have time to sit around, be depressed, and fall back into bad habits out of ennui. And they know that.

However, this had nothing to do with a game full volume Terry employment system like a lot of rehab centers have. Employment systems were people will frankly clamber over when a number to try to get one of the jobs at local facilities that will hire them. This situation however was pure and simple slave labor without an ounce of Rehabilitation. It's not just that the judge clearly thought that it was laziness that led to this guy's drug rehab, but it isn't an awful corporate scam where these jobs get free labor that they can hold prison sanctions over their head if they don't work worse than a dog, or in this case even work after a severe injury, to their liking. That does nothing for rehabilitation. It's the need and drive to want to succeed and want to participate in the workforce. This had no more rehabilitative effect, either 4 drug use or criminal behavior in general, then pounding rocks in a prison Courtyard. The only difference is now some private Corporation gets to exploit this guy's labor at a pretty savings.

This is an awful awful awful application of all the principles you are espousing. The mere fact that you're objecting over the fact that they wouldn't let workers comp cover his mangled hand doesn't make it much better frankly.
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