Mike was arrested and charged on enough counts related to the possession, manufacturing and distribution of heroin, cocaine, and crack to be sent to prison for 50 years. Eventually he was offered a reduced 12 year sentence pre-trial. He turned it down since it was so long. His public defender helped him get a treatment option. If he successfully completes his year at ICWC and then follows it with two additional years of supervised probation his 12 year sentence will be relieved. Mike had never been in treatment even though he had been using for over 17 years. While in jail awaiting trial he quit using drugs. At the time of the interview, Mike had been with ICWC for just 20 or so days.

Q: So, how did you get to ICWC?

They wanted me to get in drug treatment. The courts are doing that with a lot of people because so many guys are in there for distribution, manufacturing, possession- just junkies helping somebody- getting paid a few dollars just to support their habit. Never had money in their life.

They got folks in bull pens made of concrete with sliding doors. Just to hold people. It would surprise you to see how many rooms they have full of people. Most people they give bail to they know they can’t afford. This is a fairly small city- this is not a huge city. But they got at least 5,000 people locked up at central booking in the detention center the courts are so backed up.

Q: How did you get involved with drugs?

I started getting high when I was 15. Smoking reefer and drinking beer, I moved into rough stuff when I was 18. I was around it so much. When you add it all up, I was in a neighborhood like that- its clear your family doesn’t have too much, its kind of hard. Mom had a job but was struggling with three boys by herself. I wanted a little more. I didn’t want to have to ask her to buy me a pair of shoes when mine were getting ratty. And I saw a way- right outside my door.

Why are people bringing me money for this stuff? Its got to be heaven. And you try it. And that’s it.

I sold heroin and stuff- you learn from guys around first. The coolest dudes in the world, they had nice stuff. The guy next door never wants for anything. He can always go in the store and get something to eat. Always got a nice girl with him. You are all caught up before you even realize it.

"Heroin City should be the name."

Q: How would you describe your drug use then?

Heavy. Heavy. I was doing crack and heroin. About 6-7 caps of heroin a day and twice as much crack along with it.

Q: Where are your brothers now?

They’re both out there still getting high. The oldest, 37, still running around, just got out of jail, getting high, neglecting his children and his wife.

If you too bad off you can’t even get a job with the local neighborhood dopeman. They don’t trust you. My other brother is still dipping but can’t chase too much because he’s in a wheelchair now. He was shot six times.

Q: Why don’t the police just arrest all of the drug dealers?

If I go out the door and throw a rock, 8 out of 10 chances I will hit a drug dealer in the head. There’s too many of them and nowhere to put them. There’s actually that many. Central Booking is designed to hold 800-900 people a guard told me once. After the first two years they were over three times that.

James Garcia. Two years ago he raped and strangled two hookers. I played cards with this guy everyday in jail. They got guys like that locked up with folks like me, with 60-year old men [on simple possession]. Sixty years old and ain’t got nothin’ but a drug problem.

Do what you do, get what you get. But some get it a lot worse than they should have… like false investigations. This city is crooked.

I’m just like you. Except you got white skin and I got brown. I could have gone to college, too- school is very easy- but I got caught up and I look back now and think, damn! Stuff’s not as clear as it was.

Q: How do you like this program?

The spiritual counseling is very good. Three times a day actually. “Love has hindered me but with God’s grace and mercy it will set me free.” Everybody gets a different spiritual commitment here based on your personality characteristics.

I been sitting here the last couple weeks and seen people getting better- they were out on the streets getting high all the time. Some gain a few pounds.

They tell you- all these places- Once A Dope Fiend, Always A Dope Fiend. You get clean, get yourself together and, twenty years later, you’re still a dope fiend. I put in all this work, I deserve to be considered not a dope fiend, not an addict. You are still a man. A human being.

That guy died in jail. Let me tell you this. The guy that was getting high for years- he died. In Baltimore City Jail there’s plenty of drugs- you can get high whenever you want. I never touched it.

I have a son and a daughter. Their mothers take care of them now, but if I’m out of jail, I have to be there for that. But I can’t put myself at risk of going to prison again. I need to learn a skill, drive a truck or something. Make a decent living, so I can pay my bills without breaking the law- leave this life right here far behind me. I don’t want to live in this life forever. Always be called a dope fiend. I want to forget about it. I will never forget…but I want to be forgotten about… in that lifestyle and world.