What can happen when you do not medicate ADD/ADHD children and adults?
What can happen when you do not medicate ADD/ADHD children and adults? What did happen to Mr. Garrett?
In the recent past, Mr. Garrett was treated for ADD/ADHD at Corcoran State Prison in California with Ritalin for about four months, then treatment was discontinued. A memorandum issued by Dr. Loo, Chief Medical Officer, ordered that the prescribing of Ritalin be discontinued after June 14, 1995.
How did Mr. Garrett end up at Corcoran State Prison in the first place?
He was in trouble by the age of seven. With the best of intentions and help from others, he decided to be a legitimate member of society in the future and to live the rest of his life crime-free.
The following casework report sent to me by Mr. Garrett and published with his permission is a rather typical description of what the lives of some people are like who have severe disability from their ADD/ADHD and are medically untreated.
REPORT
CASEWORK FOLLOW-UP: Obtain the CII and FBI Reports. Washington State Prison 1982-1987.
EVALUATION: Garrett is a 37 year old, White, 2nd termer, received at SQ-RC on 2/5/91, from Santa Cruz County, for Burglary 1st.
Following his Jury Trial, he was sentenced to thirteen years.
Garrett's extensive prior record began at the age of seven when he was sent to Juvenile Hall for being incorrigible. He went back home but continued to have problems and was in and out of Juvenile Hall as well as the California Youth Authority throughout his childhood and adolescence. Most of his contacts with authorities were the result of running away from home, but some also involved drug abuse and stealing cars.
Garrett's first adult offense involved auto theft and burglary in Salinas. He was also arrested for burglary in Santa Cruz County in 1979. In 1981 he was convicted of giving narcotics to a minor that resulted in five years probation and one year county jail. Soon after, he was convicted in Washington State of 2nd Degree manslaughter and auto theft. He was sentenced to five years for each count to run consecutively. He apparently completed parole in 1987 after being released in 1986. In 1988, and 1989, he had a string of arrests for possession of drugs and theft charges. The manslaughter conviction involved Garrett not reporting the incident at the time because he was living in a stolen mobile home. Instead he buried the victim under a log, and his bones were discovered by a child's dog. The victim was shot in the head with a .22 caliber rifle.
The instant offense involves Garrett in a burglary of a private home. Garrett's fingerprints were found on the car in the garage. The home was totally ransacked and damages exceeded $50,000.00.
During the interview Garrett was cooperative and did not request special placement consideration. Garrett is not CCF SB 1591 suitable due to the time remaining on his sentence, and prior manslaughter conviction. Level IV placement is warranted and no management problems are anticipated.
NAME: GARRETT
NO: E-84313
DATE: 2/26/91
SQ RC pjm