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Lost in the criminal justice system
Our story is years long and very painful. Six years ago a family member was truant and self medicating. He was suffering school and social failure. He was grabbed up by JJ and there has been nothing but punishment since. They don't believe in the diagnosis and they were able to make it a probation rule that meds for depression and ADHD NOT be allowed. They said he was "looking for drugs." He was kept from all treatment. At age 22 (tomorrow,) he finds himeself in jail for self medicating. He was recently evaluated AGAIN in jail and the diagnosis was upheld. Long story short; he's not allowed meds for ADHD and has been sitting there awaiting sentencing since Feb. I'm SO WORRIED about the state of his mental health. He has (diagnosed) anxiety, severe stress, ADHD combined and academic /social failure. I took him out of the picture and asked a general ques "What medications do you usually give inmates who have been diagnosed with ADHD?" Here is part of the email I received today. I NEED comments, please.
"Usually in the prisons they do not treat ADHD because the medications are controlled meds. and most are stimulants which they do not allow. They also view ADHD as an illness that affects ability to learn and the ability to work which is not an issue while in prison. In extreme cases when it is treated, they can use wellbutrin, "
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