Inmate worried about addiction

To the editor:
I’m sitting here in Rockville, Ind., at the correctional facility for women because of mistakes I’ve made.
I sold pills to a snitch, someone I thought could be trusted. I’m not proud of myself at all. I’m very ashamed of myself, of what I’ve put my family through.
Knowing what I know now, addiction is a disease, a very bad disease that needs to be treated like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
There has been so many young adults overdosing and/or passing away in Jay County and the surrounding areas. There can be a stop to this disease. There is an epidemic of drug abuse and there are a lot of signs to look for if your loved ones are using.
I never thought I would end up in prison. But here I am. If you get caught dealing drugs of any kind, you will go to prison.
You will lose your freedom, no longer having the choice when to wake up, when to go to bed, what to wear, when to shower, when to eat or what to eat. It’s not fun at all. The showers are not always warm either. The food is not all that great. And you will be given a job to do. You have to be up and ready to work, so forget about being lazy. If you have no money or anyone on the outside helping you with money, you will be hungry a lot of times.
You think you have all these friends now that you drink with or use drugs with? Wait until you are locked up and see how many will write you or even visit you. There won’t be very many because that alcohol and those drugs are much more important to them than you are. Is it worth it? No, I say not.
When I get out, I will be on probation. If I screw up even once, I come back here. Even if I have one day on probation left and I screw up, I’m coming back and serving all that time I did on probation. I don’t ever want to come back here. And now, saying no just got so much easier.
You say you don’t want to go into rehab because it will take you away from your family and children? So, be honest, how many of you actually spend quality time with your children or family? How many of you send your children to go play somewhere else so you can get drunk or high without interruptions?
You do have time to get into rehab and stay. If you say you don’t, you are in denial. Wake up before it’s too late. Your young children may have to see you in a casket and being buried, then be without you for the rest of their lives. Your family and children deserve much better.
No one and nothing is worth losing freedom anymore. I now just pray that my family can forgive me and accept my apologies for all the mistakes I’ve made in my life.
Alcohol and weed are drugs.
Get the help you need and make Jay County drug free.
Judith Betterton
Rockville

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