"Careless Detention"--Those Who Can't Say No to Drugs

Detainees drugged without medical reason--U.S. government violating its own rules in the process.

The U.S. government has injected hundreds of foreigners it has deported with dangerous psychotropic drugs against their will to keep them sedated during the trip back to their home country, according to medical records, internal documents and interviews with people who have been drugged.

The government's forced use of antipsychotic drugs, in people who have no history of mental illness, includes dozens of cases in which the "pre-flight cocktail," as a document calls it, had such a potent effect that federal guards needed a wheelchair to move the slumped deportee onto an airplane.

About one detainee:

"I can't be deported," he replied. "I have a wife I love very much." Besides, he told them, he was still appealing his immigration case. He shouldn't have to leave, he protested, until the judge had ruled. That day, he was returned to Alabama. But he said that immigration officers warned him, "We'll find a way to get you on a plane."

A few weeks later, the officers came back and again took him to a holding cell in Atlanta. He was, the medical log says, becoming "increasingly anxious and non-cooperative per flt. to Nigeria." At 1:30 p.m., the log says, "Dt taken down by four" guards.

Ade was being held down, he recalled, when he noticed a nurse "with a needle and a bottle with some kind of substance in it." He said he told the guards: "Okay, fine, fine. If it's going to be like this, don't inject me. I will go on my own free will."

Check out page 2 of the article to see which drugs were commonly used in this nifty cocktail and in what doses they were given. Hey, have I ever mentioned in this journal that one of my recurring childhood nightmares was the one where government officials came to my house, accused me of something-or-other, and injected me with drugs against my will? (Link via supergee.)

as each gem reflects every other system in the morning after.

So, where was I when I was so rudely interrupted by extreme sleepiness? Eh, who cares--let's talk about where I am now. Well, I'm at home sitting in front of the computer. That's not terribly exciting, come to think of it. Perhaps I should start again.

Am still sleepy, still waiting for remnants of the last medication I tried to leave my system, or at least stop being so darn noticeable. Have been trying to Go Out and Do Stuff, which has been reasonably successful so far this week. On Sunday the major excitement was a trip to a drug store--something less than a mile walked total--which may not sound exciting, but was certainly an adventure given the torrential downpour we had at the time.

Monday: Trip to the mall to fill myself with food court junk-lunch, walk to the library to renew a recently-expired library card, journey to a doctor's office to pick up a referral--all in an unseasonably cold, heavy rain with the kind of breezes that insist on turning the sturdiest umbrella inside-out at least half a dozen times during the day. Wore a long coat, which may have been overkill but did keep most of me dry most of the time. Collapsed in a heap and slept for several hours after coming home, only waking up to watch the latest episode of House, M.D. (featuring an actress who was apparently yet another person who once appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though I didn't recognize her until I'd looked her up on IMDb).

Tuesday: Long, tiring trip to the neurologist. For those of you following along at home: Yes, I am still seeing the same neurologist I insisted was too far away for me to continue seeing. You want to know why? Two words: Korean supermarket! Or rather, mostly Korean supermarket with assorted Hispanic items, all within walking distance of the doctor's office! Rapini and gai lan and bok choy and u choy and five different kinds of eggplant--

Why yes, I do like eating my vegetables; why do you ask? Anyway, the neurologist said to continue taking the medication I've been on for the last eleven months, stop taking the drug I'd been tapering off, and start taking a low dose of another drug. After the appointment, I had a lovely walk to the lovely store with the lovely produce section, selected a few tasty items there, was accosted by a little Asian woman who asked which green tea I would recommend since she didn't know a thing about the stuff herself (thereby demolishing the last of my stereotypes), left the store, missed one bus, and got to enjoy the sunshine while waiting for the next bus.

Today: Stayed close to home, but walked about three miles total anyway. Was not pelted by rain, incited to bureaucracy-related violence, or seduced by exotic fruits. Ah well, not every day can be exciting.