A killer withdrawal.

[Grizzly_Arbuckle]

At 8:37pm friday Dec. 18th my friend Little Tommy was pronounced dead. Tuesday he was arrested for P.W.I. Tommy was addicted to heroin for 9 years. A few years ago he added a steady regimine of benzo's, he was prescribed klonipin but also took ativan and xanax on a dailiy basis combined with his heroin habbit, before being arrested I know he was shooting 5-7 grams of tar a day, and eating 10mg of Klonipin, 4mgs of ativan and 4 bars of xanax daily. After being arrested the county jail where he was held refused to give him his klonipin, and absoulutley nothing to help with his heroin withdrawal. He had been having severe symptoms, and last night he died as result of complications from a withdrawal induced seizure. I thought I had bad withdrawals, R.I.P. Little Tommy, this nods for you!

[L.A.Pillbilly]

Originally Posted by Grizzly_Arbuckle

At 8:37pm friday Dec. 18th my friend Little Tommy was pronounced dead. Tuesday he was arrested for P.W.I. Tommy was addicted to heroin for 9 years. A few years ago he added a steady regimine of benzo's, he was prescribed klonipin but also took ativan and xanax on a dailiy basis combined with his heroin habbit, before being arrested I know he was shooting 5-7 grams of tar a day, and eating 10mg of Klonipin, 4mgs of ativan and 4 bars of xanax daily. After being arrested the county jail where he was held refused to give him his klonipin, and absoulutley nothing to help with his heroin withdrawal. He had been having severe symptoms, and last night he died as result of complications from a withdrawal induced seizure. I thought I had bad withdrawals, R.I.P. Little Tommy, this nods for you!

I'm sorry for your loss. I recently tried to get the ACLU, to look into the county jail doing similar things to addict friends of mine. My friend was on lots of dope and prescribed xanax, and pain pills of various sorts, well the judge forced him to either quit taking his meds, which he needed, and were prescribed by dr., and when he failed a drug test, they locked him up and made him detox from benzos and an IV dope problem. I am really worried about this problem.
When my Bro went to jail, they drove him to the MD clinic, after his lawyer made the request. My Bro would be all shackled up, and stand in line at the clinic with two armed guards watching over him. Now, that is how it should be, or at least have a Dr on site, that can administer detox relief drugs. Even the least uneducated junkie knows, that you cant quit benzos cold turkey, as you could have a seizure and die. Sorry for all the losses, and all the dead friends.

[Shadowsblaze]

Originally Posted by Grizzly_Arbuckle

At 8:37pm friday Dec. 18th my friend Little Tommy was pronounced dead. Tuesday he was arrested for P.W.I. Tommy was addicted to heroin for 9 years. A few years ago he added a steady regimine of benzo's, he was prescribed klonipin but also took ativan and xanax on a dailiy basis combined with his heroin habbit, before being arrested I know he was shooting 5-7 grams of tar a day, and eating 10mg of Klonipin, 4mgs of ativan and 4 bars of xanax daily. After being arrested the county jail where he was held refused to give him his klonipin, and absoulutley nothing to help with his heroin withdrawal. He had been having severe symptoms, and last night he died as result of complications from a withdrawal induced seizure. I thought I had bad withdrawals, R.I.P. Little Tommy, this nods for you!

So sorry for the loss of your friend, I would hope that Little Tommy's family would investigate through the ACLU and consider sueing the shit out of the institution, the warden and every officer on duty that observed him or should have. More financial burden put on the Gov. is another dent in there reasoning and there stupid laws pertaining to drug use. Assholes, if I believed in Hell it would be where they deserve to be for murder, and the other attrocities that they continue to commit. Protect and serve my ass.

[mac]

Originally Posted by Grizzly_Arbuckle

At 8:37pm friday Dec. 18th my friend Little Tommy was pronounced dead. Tuesday he was arrested for P.W.I. Tommy was addicted to heroin for 9 years. A few years ago he added a steady regimine of benzo's, he was prescribed klonipin but also took ativan and xanax on a dailiy basis combined with his heroin habbit, before being arrested I know he was shooting 5-7 grams of tar a day, and eating 10mg of Klonipin, 4mgs of ativan and 4 bars of xanax daily. After being arrested the county jail where he was held refused to give him his klonipin, and absoulutley nothing to help with his heroin withdrawal. He had been having severe symptoms, and last night he died as result of complications from a withdrawal induced seizure. I thought I had bad withdrawals, R.I.P. Little Tommy, this nods for you!

I, too, am sorry to hear about the unfortunate loss of your friend. This kind of thing makes my blood boil. One of the most stupefying things about this issue is that a lot of these cops think that they're doing addicts a favor by locking them in a cell to withdrawal cold turkey. Shouldn't this be considered cruel and unusual punishment - something that should be prevented by our constitutional rights? There has to be some sort of legal precedent for a law suit here. I'd be very surprised if no one has ever won a law suit because of this before as I'm sure it has happened more than a few times.

It is absolutely medical fact that someone going through withdrawal, particularly benzodiazepine withdrawal, needs medical attention. If one of my loved ones had this happen to them, I would try to bring more than just a civil case against the parties involved. I would seek to press charges for whatever I could; whether it be criminal negligence, manslaughter, or whatever, I would try to crucify the people responsible for this. Then they could see what it's like to rot in a jail cell. On top of that, I would attempt to burn the state for as much financial compensation as possible. All this wouldn't necessarily be in retribution either, but rather, so the state would be sure to take precautions to prevent this from ever happening again. No one should be subjected to such suffering, especially someone who was a completely nonviolent offender. I can only imagine what sort of withdrawal that poor soul was going through in that jail cell.

[TigerFan]

Wow.
That really fucking pisses me off that jails will do that. HOW FUCKING STUPID. Would they do that to someone who needs a shot of insulin or an epileptic person who needs klonopin, God how fucking stupid. And the worst part is - THEY PROBABLY DONT EVEN GIVE A FUCK. They'll probably still be able to rest easy at night by shifting the blame.

BTW: They did the same thing to me when I was 17. I was on 6mgs ativan and had to go 30 days locked up. Was a fucking nightmare.

EDIT: I should say I don't have a problem with people addicted to opiates being locked up for CT withdrawal. I don't want my tax dollars going to methadone to help folks ease their way into jail. But when withdrawals become potentially FATAL - like benzos, barbs, or whatever else, something needs to be done. That's negligent homicide.

[b00ty_m4n]

Sorry to hear that withdrawling one of the worse things to die from in my opinion!

[oneironaut]

wow man that is a horror story... so sad you had to go through that. it should be common understanding that you can't just STOP taking meds, especially benzos, and i also don't understand how people still don't get how BAD benzo wd are, (obviously) fatal in some cases, especially with that kind of regimen... but TigerFan's prob right. they prob could care less... clean out cell space for the next guy... this really gets to me, and i wish you and all the best... and if even if you don't take harm reduction to the heart, just remember to BE CAREFUL and try try not to let your habit get in over your head. i know plenty of fellas who have been mainlining for over 20 years... and although they'd enjoy 4 bags... they can still feel all right after 1 or 2... so it IS manageable, just takes a lot of will power and sometimes you gotta slow down a bit and let your tolerance catch up to you.

anyway this is horrible and i'll bet it WON'T be on the 7 o'clock news...

[Dan Steely]

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend. It's unconsionable that happened to him and those responsible should be held accountable. They should be charged criminally or at least it sounds like there is a potential wrongful death suit in this case. His family should consult with some lawyers. Not for the money but to stop this senseless tragedy from happening again.

[Dolofinell]

TigerFan
I should say I don't have a problem with people addicted to opiates being locked up for CT withdrawal

I dont know if your talking about CP'rs and maintanence patients with doctors dispensing
prescriptions and meds, or someone who is using to use.

I do know I was locked up for 2 months ages ago on a p.v. on a charge that held no ground in the first place. Was in MMT clean 1.5 yrs , they CT'd me from 130mgs. to nothing without even an immodium.

My wife/parents were more than happy to pay for my methadone treatment to continue
in there , at least a humane detox. Wasnt comin out of your pocket. Obviously the county would'nt have that. I just think 130mgs methadone to 0 CT is cruel.

Oh well ^ 6yrs. ago been back on MMT and clean since.

IM VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS GRIZZLY_A

[OrangeLude]

sad loss. seems avoidable. prayers for Tommy and his friends & family. Sorry for your loss.

horror show for addicted in the system.

[TigerFan]

Sorry, Dolofinell I didn't even cosider CP folks (considering this story was about heroin and no one has even mentioned chronic pain). YES, if you have a medication prescribed you should be able to take it. I know jails around here that will allow you to take meds and even subs - provided they are your own and someone has to bring them to the jail.

But if you're going to cop heroin/pills getting locked up is the risk you take. No two ways about it.

[cracksinthepavement]

Fuck the war on drugs. This is absolutely a DIRECT result of the war on drugs. It's cliche (sadly), and no one wants to hear it, but fuck man.. This was so preventable. I bet one 2mg klonopin (or even hydroxyzine! that is the best for benzo wd if you ask me) a day would've saved his life.. It would've sucked, but still.

[erica]

Completely foreseeable, completely preventable, completely sick and cruel.

Completely legal, completely soon forgotten, completely the American "justice" system.

I'd bet anything those jail staffers are patting themselves on the back, figuring they did the world a fucking favor. I hope they rot.

[JonnyMohawk]

Originally Posted by cracksinthepavement

I bet one 2mg klonopin (or even hydroxyzine! that is the best for benzo wd if you ask me) a day would've saved his life.. It would've sucked, but still.

Hydroxyzine isnt a benzo, its an anti-histamine with anxiolytic effects, it wouldn't of saved his life though.

[mac]

Originally Posted by TigerFan

I should say I don't have a problem with people addicted to opiates being locked up for CT withdrawal.

I completely disagree with this stance. Just because the benzo withdrawal can be fatal doesn't make illicit use of these substances any more legal or justified than opiate use. ALL addicts, whatever drugs they might be addicted to, should be treated equally and appropriately. Locking someone up who is going through any sort of CT withdrawal is cruel and sick in my book. Our criminal justice system is so primitive.

Originally Posted by erica

Completely foreseeable, completely preventable, completely sick and cruel.

Completely legal, completely soon forgotten, completely the American "justice" system.

I'd bet anything those jail staffers are patting themselves on the back, figuring they did the world a fucking favor. I hope they rot.

Shows just how fucking enlightened our criminal justice system is, doesn't it?

A while ago I read an article about police psychology and much of what I read made me so fucking angry. Many policemen and women, especially narcotics interdiction officers, view their job as something synonymous with a game. For example, they actually get off on finding and busting "the bad guys," and by doing so - this is the part that really makes my blood boil - they feel that they're doing the addicts in question a favor; they are "doing it for these persons own good." Let me tell you something: locking someone in a tiny, cold cell with no medical attention to go through withdrawal is tantamount to torture. It's unjust, cruel, unusual and completely unethical. I hope they fucking rot too. Fuckers.