[Music] Hey
Hey
Hey I just want to tell you I’m very
I just want to tell you I’m very
I just want to tell you I’m very grateful and honored to be here today
grateful and honored to be here today
grateful and honored to be here today there was a lot of people in my life
there was a lot of people in my life
there was a lot of people in my life that told me I’d never be here you see
that told me I’d never be here you see
that told me I’d never be here you see I’m convicted 25 times over of substance
I’m convicted 25 times over of substance
I’m convicted 25 times over of substance use disorder convictions I’m also a high
use disorder convictions I’m also a high
use disorder convictions I’m also a high school dropout but I’m also a lot of
school dropout but I’m also a lot of
school dropout but I’m also a lot of other things today and that’s what we’re
other things today and that’s what we’re
other things today and that’s what we’re here to talk about philosophers have
here to talk about philosophers have
here to talk about philosophers have said momentum first requires expending
said momentum first requires expending
said momentum first requires expending one unit ten units of energy to yield
one unit ten units of energy to yield
one unit ten units of energy to yield one unit of results after a while your
one unit of results after a while your
one unit of results after a while your momentum begins to build on itself and
momentum begins to build on itself and
momentum begins to build on itself and it creates 10 units of results with one
it creates 10 units of results with one
it creates 10 units of results with one unit of energy this principle works both
unit of energy this principle works both
unit of energy this principle works both ways unfortunately I’m going to talk
ways unfortunately I’m going to talk
ways unfortunately I’m going to talk about criminal justice reform substance
about criminal justice reform substance
about criminal justice reform substance use disorder and the impacts on recovery
use disorder and the impacts on recovery
use disorder and the impacts on recovery on a nationwide scale I’m going to talk
on a nationwide scale I’m going to talk
on a nationwide scale I’m going to talk about my personal anecdotal experience
about my personal anecdotal experience
about my personal anecdotal experience with this and then I’m going to back up
with this and then I’m going to back up
with this and then I’m going to back up to a 30,000 foot view and address it as
to a 30,000 foot view and address it as
to a 30,000 foot view and address it as a societal issue this issue is now the
a societal issue this issue is now the
a societal issue this issue is now the number one public health crisis and
number one public health crisis and
number one public health crisis and criminal justice issue in the country it
criminal justice issue in the country it
criminal justice issue in the country it is the number one killer of young people
is the number one killer of young people
is the number one killer of young people and last year alone it took the lives of
and last year alone it took the lives of
and last year alone it took the lives of over 64 thousand young Americans I share
over 64 thousand young Americans I share
over 64 thousand young Americans I share my story to show others that nothing is
my story to show others that nothing is
my story to show others that nothing is impossible to a willing heart even with
impossible to a willing heart even with
impossible to a willing heart even with the deck stacked against you I share it
the deck stacked against you I share it
the deck stacked against you I share it for the guys still sitting in the 8×8
for the guys still sitting in the 8×8
for the guys still sitting in the 8×8 cell who doesn’t think that he has a
cell who doesn’t think that he has a
cell who doesn’t think that he has a chance of ever making a life of ever
chance of ever making a life of ever
chance of ever making a life of ever being anything
being anything
being anything I share my story because there’s 30
I share my story because there’s 30
I share my story because there’s 30 million people in this country suffering
million people in this country suffering
million people in this country suffering from substance use disorder it affects
from substance use disorder it affects
from substance use disorder it affects everything around us whether we know
everything around us whether we know
everything around us whether we know about it or not I’m here to tell the
about it or not I’m here to tell the
about it or not I’m here to tell the fellow substance use disorder sufferer
fellow substance use disorder sufferer
fellow substance use disorder sufferer that you’re not a bad person trying to
that you’re not a bad person trying to
that you’re not a bad person trying to get good you’re a sick person trying to
get good you’re a sick person trying to
get good you’re a sick person trying to get well the labeling theory in
get well the labeling theory in
get well the labeling theory in sociology and criminology tells us that
sociology and criminology tells us that
sociology and criminology tells us that if society tells someone they are
if society tells someone they are
if society tells someone they are something long enough they start to
something long enough they start to
something long enough they start to think that way and behave accordingly
think that way and behave accordingly
think that way and behave accordingly we’re creating a new momentum here we’re
we’re creating a new momentum here we’re
we’re creating a new momentum here we’re going to love you until you can learn to
going to love you until you can learn to
going to love you until you can learn to love yourself
love yourself
love yourself my journey should not be the exception
my journey should not be the exception
my journey should not be the exception it should be the rule I started using
it should be the rule I started using
it should be the rule I started using chemicals very young my father was
chemicals very young my father was
chemicals very young my father was killed in a boating accident when I was
killed in a boating accident when I was
killed in a boating accident when I was 8 weeks old and what studies have shown
8 weeks old and what studies have shown
8 weeks old and what studies have shown is that there’s a large correlation
is that there’s a large correlation
is that there’s a large correlation between childhood trauma and substance
between childhood trauma and substance
between childhood trauma and substance use disorder I also mentioned I started
use disorder I also mentioned I started
use disorder I also mentioned I started using very young there’s also huge
using very young there’s also huge
using very young there’s also huge correlations between the younger someone
correlations between the younger someone
correlations between the younger someone starts using substances and their
starts using substances and their
starts using substances and their chances of developing addiction I
chances of developing addiction I
chances of developing addiction I started getting in trouble at a very
started getting in trouble at a very
started getting in trouble at a very young age I was arrested and convicted
young age I was arrested and convicted
young age I was arrested and convicted as an adult at 16 years old from theirs
as an adult at 16 years old from theirs
as an adult at 16 years old from theirs things began to spiral out of control I
things began to spiral out of control I
things began to spiral out of control I knew from the very first time I ingested
knew from the very first time I ingested
knew from the very first time I ingested chemicals that I wasn’t like other
chemicals that I wasn’t like other
chemicals that I wasn’t like other people I didn’t handle it the same way
people I didn’t handle it the same way
people I didn’t handle it the same way my friends did yet I still wanted to try
my friends did yet I still wanted to try
my friends did yet I still wanted to try to fit in I chased that too a lot of
to fit in I chased that too a lot of
to fit in I chased that too a lot of damaging consequences once you have a
damaging consequences once you have a
damaging consequences once you have a record in the criminal justice system
record in the criminal justice system
record in the criminal justice system it’s very hard to get out of that trap
it’s very hard to get out of that trap
it’s very hard to get out of that trap you begin to get wrapped up in arrests
you begin to get wrapped up in arrests
you begin to get wrapped up in arrests probation fees fines it all builds on
probation fees fines it all builds on
probation fees fines it all builds on itself in a cyclical nature until you
itself in a cyclical nature until you
itself in a cyclical nature until you can’t get out I’m going to tell a story
can’t get out I’m going to tell a story
can’t get out I’m going to tell a story about a time I was locked up in a metro
about a time I was locked up in a metro
about a time I was locked up in a metro Atlanta jail I had been given 6 months
Atlanta jail I had been given 6 months
Atlanta jail I had been given 6 months for a public drunk I was going through
for a public drunk I was going through
for a public drunk I was going through what the medical community knows is DTS
what the medical community knows is DTS
what the medical community knows is DTS delirium tremens I was pepper-sprayed
delirium tremens I was pepper-sprayed
delirium tremens I was pepper-sprayed stripped beaten and thrown into solitary
stripped beaten and thrown into solitary
stripped beaten and thrown into solitary confinement
confinement
confinement also known as the whole to shake it out
also known as the whole to shake it out
also known as the whole to shake it out I should have been taken to the hospital
I should have been taken to the hospital
I should have been taken to the hospital and given medical content to stop this
and given medical content to stop this
and given medical content to stop this momentum it took me completely leaving
momentum it took me completely leaving
momentum it took me completely leaving Atlanta and coming over to Mississippi
Atlanta and coming over to Mississippi
Atlanta and coming over to Mississippi my great grandmother was from Fulton
my great grandmother was from Fulton
my great grandmother was from Fulton Mississippi and there was an abandoned
Mississippi and there was an abandoned
Mississippi and there was an abandoned house there that my grandmother let me
house there that my grandmother let me
house there that my grandmother let me move into with practically nothing I
move into with practically nothing I
move into with practically nothing I came over with a garbage bag full of
came over with a garbage bag full of
came over with a garbage bag full of clothes and a television set didn’t have
clothes and a television set didn’t have
clothes and a television set didn’t have any heat the first winter but I was able
any heat the first winter but I was able
any heat the first winter but I was able to enroll in a community college and I
to enroll in a community college and I
to enroll in a community college and I found some people that took me in they
found some people that took me in they
found some people that took me in they gave me a chance at an education then I
gave me a chance at an education then I
gave me a chance at an education then I met some more men who showed me what
met some more men who showed me what
met some more men who showed me what recovery was and had stories similar to
recovery was and had stories similar to
recovery was and had stories similar to mine they too loved me until I could
mine they too loved me until I could
mine they too loved me until I could learn to love myself I found that I
learn to love myself I found that I
learn to love myself I found that I could strive in academia I earned a 4.0
could strive in academia I earned a 4.0
could strive in academia I earned a 4.0 I made the President’s List every
I made the President’s List every
I made the President’s List every semester I was fortunate enough to
semester I was fortunate enough to
semester I was fortunate enough to receive a lucky day scholarship to the
receive a lucky day scholarship to the
receive a lucky day scholarship to the University of Mississippi it’s for
University of Mississippi it’s for
University of Mississippi it’s for indigent individuals they give about 25
indigent individuals they give about 25
indigent individuals they give about 25 out in the state every year I was able
out in the state every year I was able
out in the state every year I was able to go to undergrad on a full-ride I also
to go to undergrad on a full-ride I also
to go to undergrad on a full-ride I also was able to get into the Honors College
was able to get into the Honors College
was able to get into the Honors College here Ole Miss I granted I’m 30 years old
here Ole Miss I granted I’m 30 years old
here Ole Miss I granted I’m 30 years old and I was speaking with someone from the
and I was speaking with someone from the
and I was speaking with someone from the recover or the Honors College and I told
recover or the Honors College and I told
recover or the Honors College and I told her he said you should try out for the
her he said you should try out for the
her he said you should try out for the Honors College I said man I’m a high
Honors College I said man I’m a high
Honors College I said man I’m a high school dropout I could never do that he
school dropout I could never do that he
school dropout I could never do that he said you should try so I tried and I
said you should try so I tried and I
said you should try so I tried and I made it I also failed to mention shortly
made it I also failed to mention shortly
made it I also failed to mention shortly before that my best friend died of a
before that my best friend died of a
before that my best friend died of a heroin overdose his three year old his
heroin overdose his three year old his
heroin overdose his three year old his five year old found him I made a
five year old found him I made a
five year old found him I made a decision while in the Honors College to
decision while in the Honors College to
decision while in the Honors College to not be silent about my recovery anymore
not be silent about my recovery anymore
not be silent about my recovery anymore so I decided to write my honors thesis
so I decided to write my honors thesis
so I decided to write my honors thesis on rehabilitation verse incarceration
on rehabilitation verse incarceration
on rehabilitation verse incarceration for nonviolent substance use offenders
for nonviolent substance use offenders
for nonviolent substance use offenders and it took back the administration a
and it took back the administration a
and it took back the administration a little bit there were nobody had really
little bit there were nobody had really
little bit there were nobody had really talked about this before here especially
talked about this before here especially
talked about this before here especially in the Honors College but I decided to
in the Honors College but I decided to
in the Honors College but I decided to be open because I was afraid of what
be open because I was afraid of what
be open because I was afraid of what might happen if I did
might happen if I did
might happen if I did I graduated magna laude from the
I graduated magna laude from the
I graduated magna laude from the Honors College Phi Beta Kappa top of my
Honors College Phi Beta Kappa top of my
Honors College Phi Beta Kappa top of my class I went to law school to try and
class I went to law school to try and
class I went to law school to try and pay back into a system that I was there
pay back into a system that I was there
pay back into a system that I was there was such a big part of my life while in
was such a big part of my life while in
was such a big part of my life while in law school I had many opportunities I
law school I had many opportunities I
law school I had many opportunities I was appointed to the governor’s opiate
was appointed to the governor’s opiate
was appointed to the governor’s opiate task force here in Mississippi with the
task force here in Mississippi with the
task force here in Mississippi with the Mississippi Bureau narcotics I received
Mississippi Bureau narcotics I received
Mississippi Bureau narcotics I received an internship – one of the top criminal
an internship – one of the top criminal
an internship – one of the top criminal defense programs in Bronx that
defense programs in Bronx that
defense programs in Bronx that specializes in holistic criminal defense
specializes in holistic criminal defense
specializes in holistic criminal defense approaches and I was also published and
approaches and I was also published and
approaches and I was also published and one of the top criminal law journals in
one of the top criminal law journals in
one of the top criminal law journals in the country on these concepts that I’m
the country on these concepts that I’m
the country on these concepts that I’m sharing with you today we’ve not always
sharing with you today we’ve not always
sharing with you today we’ve not always done things this way before 1970 the
done things this way before 1970 the
done things this way before 1970 the longest sentence anyone ever served for
longest sentence anyone ever served for
longest sentence anyone ever served for a drug crime was one year we had the
a drug crime was one year we had the
a drug crime was one year we had the Controlled Substances Act come into
Controlled Substances Act come into
Controlled Substances Act come into effect in 1974 a lot of different
effect in 1974 a lot of different
effect in 1974 a lot of different reasons that I can’t go into right now
reasons that I can’t go into right now
reasons that I can’t go into right now but the ramifications have been huge
but the ramifications have been huge
but the ramifications have been huge since then drug possession has become a
since then drug possession has become a
since then drug possession has become a felony five percent we now incarcerate
felony five percent we now incarcerate
felony five percent we now incarcerate over 25% of the world’s prison
over 25% of the world’s prison
over 25% of the world’s prison population while the United States only
population while the United States only
population while the United States only makes up 5% of the world’s population
makes up 5% of the world’s population
makes up 5% of the world’s population this is up 700 percent in 40 years over
this is up 700 percent in 40 years over
this is up 700 percent in 40 years over 80% of the people behind bars suffer
80% of the people behind bars suffer
80% of the people behind bars suffer from substance use disorder or other
from substance use disorder or other
from substance use disorder or other co-occurring disorders sixty percent of
co-occurring disorders sixty percent of
co-occurring disorders sixty percent of the people that are released
the people that are released
the people that are released wind up reoffending within three years
most of these people aren’t really vile
most of these people aren’t really vile a shion’s and what I mean by technical
a shion’s and what I mean by technical
a shion’s and what I mean by technical violations is a failed urine screen
violations is a failed urine screen
violations is a failed urine screen failure to pay failure to be somewhere
failure to pay failure to be somewhere
failure to pay failure to be somewhere because you don’t have a driver’s
because you don’t have a driver’s
because you don’t have a driver’s license or have money to get there
license or have money to get there
license or have money to get there they’re not going out most of these
they’re not going out most of these
they’re not going out most of these individuals are not going out and
individuals are not going out and
individuals are not going out and committing new crimes and like I said
committing new crimes and like I said
committing new crimes and like I said thirty million people in this country
thirty million people in this country
thirty million people in this country suffer from subs
suffer from subs
suffer from subs use disorder yet only one out of ten
use disorder yet only one out of ten
use disorder yet only one out of ten people suffering ever receive any kind
people suffering ever receive any kind
people suffering ever receive any kind of treatment the shame the stigma and
of treatment the shame the stigma and
of treatment the shame the stigma and the criminalization of this disorder
the criminalization of this disorder
the criminalization of this disorder keeps people silent even in recovery
keeps people silent even in recovery
keeps people silent even in recovery when they’ve gotten back some of the
when they’ve gotten back some of the
when they’ve gotten back some of the things in their life that they hold so
things in their life that they hold so
things in their life that they hold so dear now John was one of the main
dear now John was one of the main
dear now John was one of the main reasons I decided to break my silence so
reasons I decided to break my silence so
reasons I decided to break my silence so what do we do what do we do that’s what
what do we do what do we do that’s what
what do we do what do we do that’s what we tried to figure out with the RCL
we tried to figure out with the RCL
we tried to figure out with the RCL model which is a recovery community
model which is a recovery community
model which is a recovery community organization we created southern
organization we created southern
organization we created southern recovery advocacy here in Oxford
recovery advocacy here in Oxford
recovery advocacy here in Oxford Mississippi and it addresses the
Mississippi and it addresses the
Mississippi and it addresses the collateral consequences of the criminal
collateral consequences of the criminal
collateral consequences of the criminal justice system with drug offenses and
justice system with drug offenses and
justice system with drug offenses and let me explain what collateral
let me explain what collateral
let me explain what collateral consequences are many people serve
consequences are many people serve
consequences are many people serve sentences long beyond the time they ever
sentences long beyond the time they ever
sentences long beyond the time they ever spend behind bars long after their
spend behind bars long after their
spend behind bars long after their probation is finished long after they’ve
probation is finished long after they’ve
probation is finished long after they’ve paid their fines they now have a label
paid their fines they now have a label
paid their fines they now have a label that keeps them from participating in
that keeps them from participating in
that keeps them from participating in life it keeps them from getting Pell
life it keeps them from getting Pell
life it keeps them from getting Pell grants and education it keeps them from
grants and education it keeps them from
grants and education it keeps them from getting housing and it keeps them from
getting housing and it keeps them from
getting housing and it keeps them from getting jobs so with the RCO we decided
getting jobs so with the RCO we decided
getting jobs so with the RCO we decided to proactively tackle these collateral
to proactively tackle these collateral
to proactively tackle these collateral consequences and we based our model on
consequences and we based our model on
consequences and we based our model on several pillars we try to hook people up
several pillars we try to hook people up
several pillars we try to hook people up with employment we try to advocate for
with employment we try to advocate for
with employment we try to advocate for education employment housing life skills
education employment housing life skills
education employment housing life skills and recovery access to these tools that
and recovery access to these tools that
and recovery access to these tools that are so essential to people reintegrating
are so essential to people reintegrating
are so essential to people reintegrating back into society I didn’t have some of
back into society I didn’t have some of
back into society I didn’t have some of these life skills when I came out I
these life skills when I came out I
these life skills when I came out I didn’t know how to build credit I had to
didn’t know how to build credit I had to
didn’t know how to build credit I had to be taught these things and it was people
be taught these things and it was people
be taught these things and it was people in recovery that were able to do that
in recovery that were able to do that
in recovery that were able to do that for me the tough on drug use policy is
for me the tough on drug use policy is
for me the tough on drug use policy is not working it’s a tool of political
not working it’s a tool of political
not working it’s a tool of political manipulation it’s a business it keeps us
manipulation it’s a business it keeps us
manipulation it’s a business it keeps us afraid afraid of what we don’t
afraid afraid of what we don’t
afraid afraid of what we don’t understand
it’s been my experience that the the
it’s been my experience that the the tough people the really tough people
tough people the really tough people
tough people the really tough people help people up when they’re down they
help people up when they’re down they
help people up when they’re down they don’t kick them trust me
don’t kick them trust me
don’t kick them trust me I’m surrounded by some of the toughest
I’m surrounded by some of the toughest
I’m surrounded by some of the toughest people on the planet they are the
people on the planet they are the
people on the planet they are the pillars of their respective recovery
pillars of their respective recovery
pillars of their respective recovery communities and restorative justices
communities and restorative justices
communities and restorative justices their specialty
their specialty
their specialty some of them are here tonight Portugal
some of them are here tonight Portugal
some of them are here tonight Portugal and other countries have discovered that
and other countries have discovered that
and other countries have discovered that this is not a criminal justice issue
this is not a criminal justice issue
this is not a criminal justice issue this is a social issue Portugal decided
this is a social issue Portugal decided
this is a social issue Portugal decided to decriminalize all drugs in 2001 and
to decriminalize all drugs in 2001 and
to decriminalize all drugs in 2001 and let me explain what I mean by
let me explain what I mean by
let me explain what I mean by decriminalized it’s different from
decriminalized it’s different from
decriminalized it’s different from legalization I’m not suggesting we need
legalization I’m not suggesting we need
legalization I’m not suggesting we need to put black tar heroin next to Marlboro
to put black tar heroin next to Marlboro
to put black tar heroin next to Marlboro cigarettes at the 7-eleven what I’m
cigarettes at the 7-eleven what I’m
cigarettes at the 7-eleven what I’m saying is we need to quit attaching
saying is we need to quit attaching
saying is we need to quit attaching criminal penalties to a social and
criminal penalties to a social and
criminal penalties to a social and mental disorder thereby compounding the
mental disorder thereby compounding the
mental disorder thereby compounding the social problems and the expense in the
social problems and the expense in the
social problems and the expense in the long run
long run
long run since Portugal decriminalized their
since Portugal decriminalized their
since Portugal decriminalized their death rates their crime rates and their
death rates their crime rates and their
death rates their crime rates and their addiction rates have plummeted because
addiction rates have plummeted because
addiction rates have plummeted because they’re now treating it as a social
they’re now treating it as a social
they’re now treating it as a social issue other countries are now following
issue other countries are now following
issue other countries are now following suit Norway Uruguay Sweden the United
suit Norway Uruguay Sweden the United
suit Norway Uruguay Sweden the United States has the highest rates of
States has the highest rates of
States has the highest rates of addiction on the planet which also puts
addiction on the planet which also puts
addiction on the planet which also puts us in a unique position we have an
us in a unique position we have an
us in a unique position we have an opportunity to see the highest rates of
opportunity to see the highest rates of
opportunity to see the highest rates of recovery in history I was fortunate
recovery in history I was fortunate
recovery in history I was fortunate enough to be able to visit California
enough to be able to visit California
enough to be able to visit California about a month ago and I and I went out
about a month ago and I and I went out
about a month ago and I and I went out outside of Berkeley in San Francisco and
outside of Berkeley in San Francisco and
outside of Berkeley in San Francisco and I was able to go into a redwoods for us
I was able to go into a redwoods for us
I was able to go into a redwoods for us and as I looked around this redwood
and as I looked around this redwood
and as I looked around this redwood forest I noticed something redwoods
forest I noticed something redwoods
forest I noticed something redwoods don’t grow by themselves you never see a
don’t grow by themselves you never see a
don’t grow by themselves you never see a redwood out in the middle of a field
redwood out in the middle of a field
redwood out in the middle of a field growing these are the some of the most
growing these are the some of the most
growing these are the some of the most beautiful specimens I’ve ever seen 20
beautiful specimens I’ve ever seen 20
beautiful specimens I’ve ever seen 20 feet in diameter 300 feet tall
splendid
splendid works of creation but why the redwood
works of creation but why the redwood
works of creation but why the redwood grows and groves and not alone is
grows and groves and not alone is
grows and groves and not alone is because their root systems interlock and
because their root systems interlock and
because their root systems interlock and the redwoods showed me that that’s it’s
the redwoods showed me that that’s it’s
the redwoods showed me that that’s it’s almost identical to how we do things in
almost identical to how we do things in
almost identical to how we do things in recovery we don’t get sober on our own
recovery we don’t get sober on our own
recovery we don’t get sober on our own we help each other our root systems
we help each other our root systems
we help each other our root systems interlock and we hold each other up so
interlock and we hold each other up so
interlock and we hold each other up so that we can reach great heights of
that we can reach great heights of
that we can reach great heights of success we don’t need a war on drugs we
success we don’t need a war on drugs we
success we don’t need a war on drugs we need a war on intolerance we need a war
need a war on intolerance we need a war
need a war on intolerance we need a war on closed-mindedness and we need a war
on closed-mindedness and we need a war
on closed-mindedness and we need a war on archaic substandard policies that are
on archaic substandard policies that are
on archaic substandard policies that are economically irresponsible and
economically irresponsible and
economically irresponsible and ineffective thank you for my life
ineffective thank you for my life
ineffective thank you for my life [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
you
you [Music]
”
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