NCJ Number
118550
Date Published
1988
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Excerpts from a panel discussion held by Prisoners Against Drugs (PAD) with a youth group touring the Lehigh County Prison in Allentown, Pa., feature inmates describing their experiences with substance abuse and incarceration.
Abstract
PAD was developed in 1987 by inmates who wanted to use their experiences to deter young people from drug and alcohol abuse. The personal accounts of the inmates emphasize the strong influence that peer pressure -- the desire to be accepted by the crowd -- has on drug use. They talk about personality changes that occur after drug use, such as paranoia and violent behavior. The risks of drug use are also underscored, particularly loss of friends and family and criminal behavior that leads to prison. Some inmates discuss their fears about AIDS as well as family members who have died of either AIDS or accidents related to substance abuse. The video raises viewers' awareness of the harshness of prison life and inmates' perceptions that a direct connection exists between recreational drug use and addiction.