The Federal Bureau of Prisons forces every inmate who has ever admitted to, at a minimum, smoking weed to attend a drug education class. Of course you can refuse, but that means they will reduce the paycheck of your prison job to $5.25 a month. I averaged around $17/month for my job, but still….The classes were lead by a government-employed drug counseling specialist and were based on workbooks by The Change Companies, an outfit I have referenced elsewhere. I have seen and participated in, over the years, some really good substance education programs, for instance, one that was led by a counselor from Hazelden, but the BOP version is lacking. It’s more of a “Just Say No” nostalgia trip for people who have already embraced the “yes.” Consequently, the drug treatment specialist just gave up and showed us videos. Just say “Useless.”
What’s the edifying intention
Of making us watch Intervention?
To see TV cash in
On some addicts’ “sin”?
Of the irony I’ll make no mention
Just say “useless,” or just say “use less”?