21 opiate addict going into federal jail

[syntis]

Hi. I'm going to self surrender to Coleman on Monday at noon.

I have a drug addiction problem. I self admitted myself into a methadone detox facility. I have been going for over a year. Prior, I have used drugs for two years before that (prescripted painkillers). I get 30mg of methadone a day every morning. I don't get a high; I get a slight tired feeling for the first hour, then my withrdrawals recess entirely and I can function.

Without, I vomit, put, cold shakes, ataxia, RLS, nauseu, restlessness, cold sweats, feeling super hot... all the withdrawals. the lasttime I tried to quit cold turkey I was withdrawing fof 3 months. I dont know how I can handle that.... It's FCC Coleman Low. Any info would be helpful. The worst partis at night, notbeingable to sleep. I've gone two weeks straight without beingable to slep. I might have dozed for an hour or two while layin down. Total. If there's no rehab program, would I get prescriped somethingelxe for this? Xanax, Ambien, Lunesta? Anything to hel pme sleep. I can hanldle the withdrawls during the day, but, at night, it's impossible. Anyone with info at Coleman LOW - What I need to bring, how I can get this fixed... and I also have an asthma inhalor.

I need to know what I need to ask or look for to get help. I won't be able to manage it. Anyone that's taken pakekillers an d has had an addiction knows how unbearable the withdrawals are. I ust worry that I'lm gonna getto such a bad place withdrawning and try to find a way to kill myself in jail. I'm scared...

[mr.lucky66]

I had a friend who was in  the same situation in the late 80's. He was on methadone and had to report to the feds to serve about 5 years. He didn't detox and they gave him something and gave him somekind of detox though I'm sure it wasn't methadone or opiate. He told me he was ok and didn't suffer too much and the feds did ok by him. Attitude is key!

[Redbluffer]

My friend was drunk and on his way to get some drugs, when he wrecked his car on the interstate and killed a person in the car that he it. He did 5 years in state pen, california, high desert, corcoran and I think one other they had moved him to. Anyways he had suffered major injuries, broken back, arm, hand other problems, and when he went to prison they put him on methadone, before that he had never taken it. He told me he got 80mg per day, along with someother medications which I cant remember. Point being I know in California they gave it to him for pain, but I dont know if they'll continue to give it to someone who is in an established methadone clinic uppon arrival. But according to my friend alot of people recieved methadone in prison. Should be noted we are sort of old distant friends, ive only seen him occasionally since hes been out, and he continues to take methadone for his pain, which he does need. I do think for people who have chronic pain with little to no chance of it ever subsiding, methadone or patches are the way to go for pain management. Just my opinion, and not to say they both are not easily abused but is less likely. Hes fully functionalble when he takes his normal dose but when he exceeds his dose and adds in the klonipin he does lose conciousness quite easy. Now he was in State Prison not Federal and he said it was quite common for people in there to be on methadone, I just dont know if they will give it more anything else than pain. Still the best thing is to try and stop, but I just wanted to weigh in and tell a little bit about my friends experience, of how common he said methadone was.

[wannabefree330]

Well on a positive note, one good thing you will get out of this is once you get out, you'll be off the methadone.  Just don't get hooked on anything else while you're in there.  As said above, use this time wisely.  Find out about yourself.  Go to AA when you're in there if they have it.  It really is a program about learning who we are and living a better life.  Take all you can to help you with that.  Don't worry about w/d.  Deal with that when it comes.  Like said above, you will have intake questionairres that address these issues.  Just be completely honest and let the doctors know your fears about no sleep.  They may be able to give you something even if just the first few weeks.  Remember that everything in life happens for a reason.  Use this experience to become a better person and get rid of old, bad habits.  Best of luck.

[broknbck]

I tried to find some information on this prison about detoxing, but didn't get anywhere. As far as prisons go they do not have very good reveiws. but then what prison does? I had to spend a little time in jail for traffic violations. when i surrendered, they had a questionaire where they asked if i was a drug user and was going to be experiencing withdrawl. so they must have something set up for it.
Can you go to the meth clinic and get some advice from them?

[sadinmichigan]

I am sorry that you are having to go through this..I would just like to say that although methadone w/d is horrible it is not impossible. In case they do not give you anything you really need to gear your mind up and decide that you are going to make it. yes the physical w/ds are bad but they will not last forever and your mindset after the worst of it is over is essential to getting through it. I went c/t off 65 mg of methadone. It was horrible but I did make it, not really sure how but my mind was made up and once i did it there was no turning back. You will be in my prayers.

[sissypo]

what are you struggling with

[sissypo]

wow I really fill bad for you! i have tappered off my  firocet and i due get headaches  and a little snappy. i can not image  what you are going through. i thank god 4 you all and you are in my prayers it helps me to be strong and  i do not know what cause each person to get where they are ...........but i am sure we all have a storu be encouranged and hange in there

[road2recovery]

I dont' know anything about what you are going to go through...But it looks like you received some great info here...But i will add you to my prayers..I hope and pray that you make it through this, and come out wanting to get and stay clean....WE are here for you
god bless
r2r

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

You can get medications while incarcerated....I even had one shrink tell me that he could legitimately medicate the entire facility that I was in......you will go through a 3-4 day period of A&O (arrival and orientation) and have a caseworker assigned....tell your caseworker everything and point out that you were already in an established program....many of these folks honestly feel that they are helping you....let them. Make medical appointments as soon as possible. Take some bucks with you so that you can purchase whatever creature comforts you desire from the commisary.....have a person or so that you can write to and that can send you money....might want a couple of magazine subscriptions sent to you (Playboy is quite popular) - Many work and study release programs in minimum security places.....good luck to you - you can make it.....

[lisa650]

I know that in California, if you got arrested and were on methadone, they immediately put you on a 21 day detox, and usually someone from the clinic would bring you your dose. I don't know if they still do this or if that is an option. But i remember going through withdrawals from heroin, when i was in jail, and my friend was on methadone, she would be nodding in front of me and i would be so jealous. The good thing was that when i started to feel better after about a week she still had about a weeks worth of methadone to get, well after that week was over, she got soo sick.  I'm sure she was sicker than i was and it took her longer to feel better. I 'm sorry i was trying to help i might have made it worse.  I just noticed that i'm talking about county jail.  They dont do that for prisons.  I feel so bad for you, my question is if you knew you were going in why didn't you taper, lower than 30mgs? I mean as low as you could go ?  I dont if they'll take this part out but...  well, really all i should say is that the key is to see the psychiatrist, people that hear voices and stuff  usually  get something to help them sleep.  You should have seen one while you had time and tried to get valium prescribed to you. If you go in on medications, they have to give it to you they just verify with your doctor.  However you have to be aware that withrawals from valium are really bad also.  I would just take them for a week or so then quit, if not you'd be starting all over again.  I'll tell another thing that helped me on another occasion, that i was in jail, the doctor was kind enough to prescribe me some clonodine, which is for high blood pressure, It relaxes you , and i slept pretty much through the withdrawals. it is clonodine not to be confused with clonopin. Tha't all i have. Like i said i have been locked up before.  my longest was for  3 yrs.  So i know how you feel. Just hang in there, do something constructive with your time, read alot, pray alot, and it will be bearable.My best to you.

[beach777]

Im a criminal defense attorney and to the best of my knowledge federal prisons do not offer methadone or any detox programs at all. However, when you get there, you will go through a medical intake. Tell them everything you've been on and for how long etc.
My best suggestion for you is to call the facility and simply ask what you can expect. I'm assuming your surrender date was set up by the court. Somebody should have given you this information already. Did you ask your attorney?
If I may ask, what are you going in for and how long? Good luck to you. For what its worth, federal time is no picnic but it is MUCH better than state lock up any day of the week. Good luck to you. It really will be ok. You will do just fine.

[avisg]

I looked it up its a low security fed prison.Make sure you tell them when you first get there that you are in a methadone program and you need to continue . Can you get a statement from the clinic that you are in a program and how long you have been in it .I don't know what it happen .I will say a prayer I am sorry you are going threw this how long are you going to be there .