A letter from prison

Dear Editor:

I am writing this letter from my prison cell, because there are so many that I hurt or brought harm to with my addiction. At the time I thought I was only hurting myself, but I now see the whole picture through sober eyes.

Not only did I hurt my children, family and friends, but I also hurt the general public anytime I went into a store high and children saw me that way, or when I would yell and cuss in front of you or your children.
I lied, stole and acted crazy. I contributed to the drug problem in the community by being present when heroin was brought into the county. For all this, I offer my sincerest apologies.

I know that saying “I’m sorry” doesn’t even begin to make up for the things I’ve done.

The Judge, who sentenced me to prison, probably saved my life and gave me my life back. When I came to prison, I decided I needed a total and complete change, so I joined the therapeutic community at Lakin Correctional Center. This is a residential substance abuse program and intensive behavior modification unit, which focuses on modifying negative behavior and underlying issues associated with drug addiction.

The program is focused on changing patterns that cause antisocial and criminal behavior. I am putting everything I have into this program. My recovery is not an option for me anymore. It is a need for survival.

I do not even know some of your names, yet I know the damage I have caused. There are so many that I could never come to you all personally. I was addicted to pain pills and then heroin. I caused chaos and mayhem in the community. Please understand how important it is to me, not only to make amends, but to reach out to those who still suffer from the pain of addiction.

I was recently given the opportunity to speak to 10-to-19-year-olds and tell them my story and how bad choices led me to drugs, and drugs led me to prison.

I cannot put into words how helping those children helped me. My life’s ambition now is to help not only addicts, but also to reach out to youth and try to help them before they use drugs. I know that in the past, I was part of the problem, but I am now committed to becoming part of the solution.

Crystal Miller
Lakin Correctional Center
West Columbia, WV