I just find it incredibly interesting, and also frustrating, that the prison system can be both effective and destructive at the same time. It makes you wonder how much better we would be as a society if we focused on making prison effective, if it's even possible. But how does a guy like Maurice Clarett decide to make every right choice in the place where it is probably easier to make the wrong choice?
It's the same with many life experiences. How do some vets see heavy combat and cope with it effectively to lead normal lives? Others develop major PTSD and have terrible issues their entire lives. People aren't the same, we respond differently to different stimulations every day.
I think the reformation comes oneday when you look yourself in the mirror (whether at home, in jail, work..etc) and really see what you are. Reality sinks in and you are forced to confront your reality while contrasting it with your self-image without any rationalizations that enable escaping accountability. You begin to look at where you are, and where you're going without any "rose colored glasses". Some people have the strength to change their lives by asking for help, other retreat back into their shell of delusion by either detaching themselves from their situation, not caring, blaming other people, blaming the world, guilt or some other use of faulty logic.
Its hard to confront your problems, whether they are your fault or not. But, in my expierience, the solution is right there in front of you, you just have to take it. Ive got a friend who was addicted to Oxycontin, and using an obscene amount daily. Its a miracle he's alive. He was in a really bad place for a very long time. Oneday is dad had enough and said you've got two choices; A. Go jump off a bridge because I am not letting you drag your mother through this anymore. B. Get better, fix yourself, and do it on your own because you got yourself into this, you have to get out.
He choose option B. It was a crazy ride for him. The pain he went through was unreal, I'd tell him that he can go to a doctor to take something to subdue the pain and he'd always say no because he wants feel the consequence of his choice and he'll always remember what it felt like to quit and hell never go back. From the day he quit, he never took another prescription pill again. It's been about 6 years clean for him. He owns his own construction company and is doing very very well for himself.
I know that most people need help, and treating an addiction like he did is setting up for failure. But he made the decision to walk away, and stayed committed to it. He didnt blame anyone else, and he wanted to suffer for it. I think that too often today, especially in social sciences, we are very quick to give people an "out" for their behavior and choices; whether it be their socio-economic position, race, religion, some sort of abuse..etc. I think that presents a real problem.
