As an incarcerated journalist, I have passion to shine light on various dark problems that plague California prison system. After losing my buddy Gio1, I have delved deep into this terrible opioid crisis, and through my poor man research (no web) I learned things that are shocking. In addition to reading books, newspapers, curriculum etc., I bring personal experience to this conversation. I battled this powerful addiction and by God’s grace, I am here to tell you that I’ve combat it. But sadly, I had to witness many overdoses and only God knows how many times, I’ve prayed for breath to fill those individuals’ lungs as Personnel carried them away. Besides the Power of God, there’s one tangible thing that restores their breath, and the “antagonistic Narcan” is that saving grace. However, the Panacea was not available to inmates, but as of 6/20/2024 it is now. I am excited, but then I thought about something, is there cons to this? I’ll explain my thoughts. In addition, it’s important to share with laypeople, the history of opioids. For example, did you know this drug has been around since get this… Before Christ?
The history of opioids is pretty extensive, so I’ll give a synopsis of it. Opioids are a derivative of the poppy plant. According to the book by R. Johnson2, the Egyptians identified opioids as a medicinal in the Eber Papyrus (circa 1500) Before Christ. Also, scientists found a 6,000-year-old Sumerian tablet and ideograph for the poppy shown as “Joy”3. That’s interesting because opioids do bring joy to the user as it erases all the problems a person will have “superficially” of course. But that’s what makes this drug so dangerous and addictive. Another thing that shocked me was a Frontline (PBS) episode that spoke about the Opium War between China and Great Britain from 1839-1842. This drug has caused wars, and I say that plurally because wars continue over it now as people “battle” addiction. As science progressed, Morphine, Codeine, Heroin etc. all were extracted and used legally for medical purposes. Yes, Heroin was once legal at a point, but became illicit after it was banned. Currently, Fentanyl is illicit, but was a very popular anesthetic; like many things before, the drug became abused, and the illicit street sales and the overdoses has covered up that fact. Heck even MDMA was first used by Doctors so do we blame the Government for many drugs today? Regardless that answer, we can only blame ourselves for the abuse.
At least science was able to make “Naloxone,” the main substance in the Antidote Narcan. As they look at my box of Narcan, (that has finally been approved for inmates), I am elated for that fact. But it should have been here. I know families of the deceased support that statement. Many people had to perish before somebody finally said, “You know what? Let them have it!” I liken that to a brand of car whose seatbelt malfunctions during accidents. Enough people had to die before the company put out a recall! That’s asinine. So the “Con” I worry about is, since we have Narcan, will more inmates start using? I can picture folks being convinced to try the drug since there’s an antidote. There are literally some people who don’t use Fentanyl because they don’t want to die; it’s not that they’re straightlaced. I can picture it now, two cellmates saying, “Man I’ma go ahead and try it fool, but you better save me if I go out fool.” The other Cellie says, “I got you fool.” Yes, they are fools, that’s a fact. And the coldest part is, neither of them considered the option of the both ODing. It’s called, “Cause and Effect” one thing affects another. Picture this, since Narcan is here, will more people start using? More money made, more drugs smuggled inside, more first-time users, more sharing needles, more HepC and HIV, more relapses, more drug debts, more violence which leads to death, more overdoses, more crime, do you get my drift? Trust me, I am a natural optimist who believes in God. I pray those things don’t take place. But two decades incarcerated makes me know my Personnel around here. I never thought of Cons from having Narcan, until it came, then I was like UHOH. I am 3 modules away from becoming a Drug & Alcohol Treatment Specialist from Stratford Career Institute4. More lives will be saved with Narcan and that is a blessing and I will do my part to counsel inmates and others when I finally earn my freedom, and use my certification to maximize that.
It’s shocking when you consider that an estimated 2 million Americans has opioid use disorder, and estimated 900,000 people abuse Heroin. That was in 2018 according to (drug facts)5. That number has gone up and my mom was telling me that she has never saw so many people nodded out, standing up, laying on sidewalks etc. It’s bad out there and Fentanyl is the main reason. While Society is cloaked with drug abuse, the number in prison is even higher. It’s estimated that 80% of people incarcerated suffer from substance abuse dependency. That means 8 out of 10 inmates wow! Sadly, I believe it, inmates seek drugs to escape this downtrodden environment. Plus drug use plays a part in many people’s commitment offense. In addition, Heroin, Fentanyl has a physical and psychological dependence attached to its use, so most people need the drug to avoid withdrawal. That drug fuels antisocial behavior, which of course is crime related. I saw firsthand, how the impulsive behavior correlates with this drug. In 2000 my then weed connection decided to get into selling Heroin. but that’s a whole new monster. In fact, Heroin is Sasquatch, Godzilla, Lochness, Goblin, Ghoul, and a zombie all in one. We were all sitting in chairs on “L” (my connect) lawn smoking weed. A neighborhood Heroin addict came in the gate and asked “L” if he was on with any “Boy” (Heroin). “L” said, “Yeah what you got?” He said, “I don’t have anything now but I’m sick, I’ll come back and pay later.” “L” said laughing, “Man if you don’t get the hell out of my face asking for free shit.” The guy asked again, then he pulled out the biggest gun in the world, lol. I was scared to death, not going to lie. But he said, “Man I don’t want to rob you, but I need a fix.” Right then “L”’s brother came out the house and said, “L give him some, that man will kill you over this shit (excuse my verbiage).” “L” gave him some, the guy put the gun away and apologized while leaving. “L”’s brother explained how sealing week and Boy is two different things. Sadly, L aka Larry Falard was later in his car serving a youngster who sat behind him. “L” was shot execution style and killed, his mistress in the passenger seat received the same fate. The youngster left with no money or drugs although robbery was the motive. He is in this California Prison System serving life without parole. He was too young for the death penalty. These stories are relevant because it shows how serious drugs are influencing people’s decision making. By the way, “L” left behind 7 sons who he had had in private schools so they don’t be in the streets, and a wife who found out about the affair and murder at the same time. “L” died in the 69 Mustang his mom bought him when he graduated high school, true sad story and reality where I’m from.
According to (Nandi, ET6) poorly educated people with minimal social integration and live in neighborhoods surrounded by poverty, mostly are the ones using Heroin, Fentanyl, etc. Those same people commit crime and that’s why prison is full of individuals who use. Heroin though is in Affluent Communities. I have started seeing the impact of this issue. And it’s not just youngsters, there’s grown folks who were straight laced, productive members of society who got turned out and bam, they’re in person. I met a guy when I transferred to Old Folsom State Prison in 2021. I forget my buddy’s name, but he was a cool dude. He was 40s’ worked for his father’s business for years. He met a female who eventually peer pressured him into snorting a line of fentanyl. Literally that line was all it took. This hard worker became lackadaisical at work, he got into it with his father because of it. Long story short, his father fired him eventually. That’s his name Dan from Napa (just came to me) then stole his dad’s safe and went to Vegas with the gal he met. You returned he was charged with grand theft. a few run-ins with the law after that, and boom I met him at Old Folsom in the electrical vocation class. That gal was now his wife… Yeah right, she left him after Vegas when the money ran out, lol. I’m not going to lie, this guy was very funny and looked like he was supposed to be running the class. Bottom line, he is an example of what is taking place nowadays with this opioid crisis. By the way, he was in treatment taking Suboxone.
Narcan has Naloxone in it and that is also in Suboxone strips. The strip is placed under the tongue and dissolves fast. The opioid receptors that us humans have (I wonder why) are what Naloxone attach to and prevents the opioid drug from attaching to them. So basically, people like myself who receive Suboxone treatment, we can’t get high off of opioids, regardless how much we use. I personally love it, I don’t even crave you opioids literally, but I’ll get to that. Matter of fact right now, lol, so I decided to change my life and be the prosocial asset that my mom always wanted me to be. Getting clean and sober is vital to that. I enrolled in the “MAT” Program (Medically Assisted Program) which comes with Suboxone but also extensive treatment which was 3 times a week for 6 months. Overcoming addiction requires a full overall rehabilitation. I had to change my negative associates, learn my internal and external triggers, learn productive coping skills, and this requires being all in. I’m tired of being the person I was. I impacted the community in negative ways and no one deserves that. I’m devoted to making amends until I die, and changing who I am is the first part. My lovely mother who has been sober for 33 years is my role model who I look up to (figuratively) because I’m 6’7” (literally) but her support and lack of enabling me when I was in my addiction helped me combat this. This essay isn’t to talk down on anyone just because I’ve revised. I’m shining light to bring awareness to these problems while letting society get a glimpse of an artificial world that’s closed off to the public, well until you commit crime in which the prison door is wide open for those individuals. We all could help someone in dire straits, but it seems like we always waiting for someone or something to change things when we can be the catalyst to do the changing.
In conclusion, before I write a book, prison has some absolute ridiculous rules to it and some cultures do things different than others. Not to throw anyone under the bus but, “Come on man.” Money has caused people to make crazy demands. Some folks cannot receive treatment like Suboxone. But it’s ok for them to turn their cells into shooting galleries. It’s ok to play intravenous Russian Roulette. It’s ok to remain an antisocial Personality who impacts innocent people’s lives by Committing Crimes. It’s ok to build debt in prison; it’s ok to increase a person’s tolerance to drugs; it’s ok letting someone go home strung out on drugs so he returns back to prison. It’s ok that 80% of the incarcerated uses drugs because that means money. It’s ok that Fentanyl & Heroin over took Cocaine as the most abused drug behind weed. It’s ok to sell Fentanyl to people like my buddy Gio who overdosed. It’s ok not to care for other people’s lives as long as money is flowing. It’s ok to walk into Prison, but be driven out to the Morgue. I can’t continue I begin to cry, this is a sad place. Please people if you have an addiction you have to receive help before you be a statistic of either dead or in prison. The truth is, it’s not ok, don’t allow it to be ok. Life is about the choices we make. Make the choice to change like I have so you don’t write essays about how bad prison is; if you need help seek it. Take care of one another out there, we need more of that.
Peace & love
MR Baker II
Footnotes
1 “His Name is Gio” Currently available to read on MinutesBeforeSix.com by Millard Baker II
2 The American Journal of Medicine
3 Medical Discoveries
4 Good place to learn a skill for a career
5 Drug facts & Comparisons
6 The American Journal of Epidemiology
No Comments