Virginia prison facilities going tobacco-free

[underpants]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Virginia's roughly 40 state prisons, correctional field units and work release centers aim to be smokeand tobacco-free by Feb. 1 for staff and inmates.

Inmates were notified in January by a memo from Gene M. Johnson, director of the Virginia Department of Corrections. "Even when change is for the better, it can be difficult, and I appreciate your cooperation," wrote Johnson, who made the decision.

"Eliminating tobacco products has many positive outcomes including improved personal health, longer and increased sanitation and safety in our facilities," he said.

"The top four causes of death are all linked to tobacco use: heart disease, cancer, emphysema and stroke. This decision should eventually save taxpayer dollars in regard to inmate medical costs," Traylor said.

Read more: http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/article/PRIZ17_20090616-220408/274259/

[saigon68]

1. Guess they will have to play the lottery now

[billyoc]

2. It's not even worth GOING anymore.

[get the red out]

3. Seems a bit cruel

Unless they intend to provide the inmates with gum or patches.

[Warpy]

6. That only prolongs it

Cold turkey means you (metaphorically) bang your head into the walls for three days and then the nicotine is out of your system. All you're fighting after that are habit and occasional cravings.

[laureloak]

10. Skip the head-banging and use a patch. Almost no withdrawals.

That's how I quit and it was effortless. All I had to do was commit myself 100% beforehand.

[Tempest]

21. The patch isn't all that effective

At least two studies shows the first year quit rate at around 25%. And longer term is less than 15%.

I tried the patch twice without success. I quit cold turkey successfully.

[laureloak]

30. You failed because you weren't committed. The patch does

what it's supposed to - alleviate or ease cravings. It's up to you to do the rest.

BTW, quitting with the patch is cold turkey. It's cutting back and weaning off that doesn't work.

[Tempest]

42. I wasn't committed?

LOFL!!!!

Tell that to those around me when I was on the patch.

Got anymore ignorant statements to make?

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. Yep. I quit a dozen times. The last time it actually took, going

cold turkey.

[Justyce]

18. Cold turkey was the only way I could do it.

Like pulling a bandaid off slow & painfully vs. ripping it off all at once, LOL.

[shanti]

19. they do it in california too

n/t

[Bandit]

37. Cruel...what about the non-smoker that is locked up in a smoke filled room

unable to escape. It is like being in a gas chamber twenty four hours a day and not allowed to die.. Cruel..you have no fucking idea...

[YOY]

4. Funny they did not mention the one positive outcome...

It will cost them less. It's not about health or anything like that...it's like everything else in this country...$$$.

Not about the health care costs so much as the cost of buying a shitload of smokes for prisoners who have nothing else to do but sit around "rehabilitating."

[pipoman]

31. I don't think any prison system buys cigarettes for inmates

they have to buy them for themselves from the commissary.

[YOY]

34. And where do they get the money for that?

I mean EVERY documentary I have ever seen has guys smoking like chimneys. The few ex cons I have known ALL smoke.

Don't tell me everyone has families giving them money.

I thought they do pay some of them for meanial labor creating license plates and what not at a pathetic hourly rate.

[pipoman]

36. Yep

Some have family on the outside, they make some money working, some are gamblers, some are gang affiliates who are paid, some sell goods or services to other inmates, prisons have little economies which allows most anyone to make money or earn commodities.

[no limit]

5. Isn't cruel and unusual punishment unconstitutional?

[Warpy]

7. Heroin addicts are involuntarily detoxed, too

so there is a precedent.

[ddiver]

12. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

This is how it works in Ohio and many other states. I guess SCHIP will have to find another revenue stream.

[Winterblues]

40. That may be a reason that had to do this

Consider how cruel and unusual it is to keep a non-smoker locked up in a smoke filled room with no escape...ever. To a non-smoker it is like being in a gas chamber filled with toxic fumes. In fact that is exactly what it is ..Literally. Toxic fumes, which the US Government through the Surgeon General, has stated in no uncertain terms, cause death and a mutitude of other physical impairments..Yep it is indeed "cruel and unusual" punishment.

[Adsos Letter]

8. Interesting...I wouldn't care to be a CO when the ban goes into effect

I remember how uptight/edgy I got when I first quit.

[Sal Minella]

15. That's what I'm thinking -- I would HATE to be a guard 48 hours after the "New Rules"

go into effect -- when I got off cigarettes (the most recent time) I was a Certifiable NutCase WITH the patch. And quitting was my decision, not someone else's.

I just hope somebody furnishes nic patches for those people.

[ixion]

9. Yes, because while the State destroys your life, they want you to be smoke free

and this is what we call civilization. :eyes:

[leftynyc]

17. Are you assuming

the people in the prisons are all innocent? How is the state destroying their lives?

[ixion]

23. innocent or guilty, the prison system destroys lives

of course, some people in prison belong there, but most people in prison today are non-violent drug users who have had their lives ruined by prohibition.

[laureloak]

11. I think it's a great idea but they should give withdrawel help

paid for by tobacco settlement money.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Even death row inmates? nt

[imdjh]

16. Oh great- get totally buff AND smoke free. Can I be a prisoner for a year? nt

[w4rma]

20. They should supply nicotine gum/patches for the specified amount of time, then. (nt)

[devilgrrl]

22. Excellent. Lifer's will be healthier and will have stay behind bars longer.

eom

[DS1]

24. That's what they think

[proteus_lives]

25. Get ready for an upswing in violent incidents.

That's my guess.

[eilen]

26. probably will just increase the amount of $ for a pack of cigarettes

as if black market contraband cigarettes will stop, just like drugs and weapons. As. if.

[proteus_lives]

28. Good point.

They might be just handling over more money and power to the prison gangs.

[pipoman]

32. Exactly, you guys are the closest on this thread

to the reality of this policy. I have spent some time working behind the walls and anyone who believes that drugs, money, tobacco, alcohol, weapons, and virtually every other imaginable vice or commodity aren't available inside even the highest security prisons are kidding themselves. Every cigarette will now be traded or sold for a premium (but there will be cigarettes available) with the gangs getting a cut.

[sofa king]

27. How am I going to look tough if I get busted?

Try saying, "yeah, I got plugged for a dead turn signal on my scooter," without a cigarette dangling out of your mouth. See what it gets you.

[sarcasmo]

29. I bet the inmate on inmate crime triples.

[quakerboy]

33. Thats going to be U-Gly

[Psephos]

35. All hail the return of American Puritanism.

The "elect" not only get to force their worldview on everyone else, they get to smugly enjoy it too. Which is the real reason for doing it, after all.

:puke:

[Vidar]

38. Smoking down, shankings up.

[ellisonz]

39. Our prison system is a joke.

[robcon]

41. Just raises the price of tobacco in the prisons.

This will 'work' like Prohibition stopped alcohol consumption in the U.S.