Daniel’s Chronicles Episode 3 – How Departments of Corrections Create and Fuel Their Own Prison Black Market
Departments of Corrections have serious systemic failures — and it’s fair to ask what exactly is being “corrected” there.
You may have seen news stories about prisons intercepting contraband, including Suboxone.
It’s often presented as a success.
But the real question is: why is Suboxone being smuggled in the first place?
What Suboxone Actually Is
Suboxone is not a recreational drug.
It’s a medication used to treat opioid addiction. It contains buprenorphine and naloxone and is designed to:
- reduce cravings
- prevent withdrawal
- lower the risk of overdose
In other words — it helps people stay sober.
The Opioid Crisis Didn’t Happen by Accident
Purdue Pharma marketed OxyContin while falsely claiming it was non-addictive.
The consequences of that deception are still unfolding today.
Millions became dependent on opioids.
Prisons are now filled with people whose crimes are directly connected to addiction.
MAT Exists in County Jails
In many county jails, MAT — Medication-Assisted Treatment — is available.
Inmates receive Suboxone under medical supervision.
Not everywhere — but in many places, it exists and it works.
State Prisons: A Completely Different Story
Some U.S. states do offer MAT inside prison systems.
But Florida DOC and many others offer nothing at all.
- No MAT
- No continuity of care
- No support
An incarcerated person who wants to get clean is left completely on their own.
DOC will monitor your vision, your hearing, and your teeth —
but not an addiction that can kill you.
Who Is Actually in Prison?
Not everyone in prison is violent.
Many are there for possession or addiction-related offenses.
In other words: people are incarcerated because of addiction — and then denied treatment.
So What Happens Next?
People turn to the black market.
Suboxone becomes contraband, sold the same way as drugs, phones, or tobacco.
This is extremely dangerous.
You never know what you’re actually buying. Fake pills often contain fentanyl — and people die because of it.
How DOC Creates Its Own Black Market
This situation isn’t accidental.
By refusing legal, supervised treatment, Departments of Corrections unintentionally create demand for illegal alternatives.
That’s how DOCs create and fuel their own black market.
A Simple, Rational Solution
Even if a state refuses to fund MAT programs, there is still a logical option:
Allow paid, medically supervised Suboxone treatment.
Expensive? Yes.
Safer than the street? Absolutely.
What Prison Should Actually Do
Prison is supposed to correct behavior — not manufacture suffering.
Incarceration is the punishment.
Untreated addiction should not be.
Stay informed. Stay critical. Stay free.