I was on the MAT program prior to entering the FBOP. I came into the system in 2019, after two years of pretrial detention. Since then, including five years at McKean, I have been at it with these people trying to get on MAT. I was diagnosed with severe opiate-use disorder by both psychology and medical. I completed administrative remedies up to the Central Office, but got nowhere. Now I am on the verge of filing a 2241 with the 3rd Circuit seeking a court order.
When I went to the PA, I told her, “You obviously aren’t going to help me by putting me on the MAT program anytime soon. I am struggling severely. I’m depressed and it’s because you people are not helping me.” So what did she do? She put me on the antidepressant Prozac, 20 mg/twice daily. Then I told her that I’m having trouble with sleeping also, so she prescribed me trazadone 150 mg. Neither of these did a damn thing for me, except make me gain 40 pounds.
They told me that to get on MAT they were waiting for someone to do my labs, since they didn’t have a staff to perform this duty. Now they have that position filled, but still won’t call me for a simple blood draw. I have lost good conduct time and been sanctioned due to self-medicating. This is very costly and I am miserable. I have approximately five years left, and staff uses the excuse that they’ll put me on MAT within a few weeks of release.
I’m worried about overdosing, and what is in store for my future. I’m tired of the lack of health care here. My mental state is all over the place. They have no regular psychiatrist working here, but rather a “traveling salesman” who pops in from other facilities. And then all they do is refer me to medical, who does nothing for me! Pass the buck, and deflect. This place is all about saving money while I’m utterly miserable! When you tell them you are struggling, they respond with multiple drug tests so they can take your good time and keep the taxpayer paying unnecessarily for my extended stay. This medical staff has been known to tell new people coming in the door to use the “yard” for acquiring what they need.