is now with the Maine State Police. When the Journal talked with him he was working as a prison guard in New Hampshire. We asked him about his experiences with prisoners who were drug users.
I think each person suffers some kind of misery before they enter prison, and the misery becomes more severe during the first few months of incarceration when they realize the consequences of their actions and the loss of freedom. I believe the majority find moments where they really want to change. In spiritual terms, I believe that any aggressive behavior toward another or oneself or any habit that destroys our temples—our bodies—is a cry for help, a cry to be healed.
Families play a big role in the recovery of drug addicts, but their roles may vary tremendously. At times, it takes every bit of support a wife or child can give to keep an inmate motivated in recovery programs. Pain is felt by all of the parties involved, and no one can really judge the situation with the family from outside their experience. Such internal pain has been the turning point for a number of inmates that I can remember.
