Lisa's Story: Excerpts From Qualitative Interview
Lisa is a 37 year-old, Caucasian female with a history of substance-related and addictive disorders. Incarcerated for parole violation and possession of controlled dangerous substances (CDS/Heroin). Lisa has been in several residential treatment facilities.
While incarcerated she gave birth to her son who can be heard playing in the background. Lisa's mother died while she was at the hospital giving birth to her son.
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HDL: Did they say anything to you in particular?
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Lisa: No, and I said, "Is everything okay?" She (social worker) said, "Your brother just wants to talk to you." So, I already knew something was wrong right there. They don't just let you get personal phone calls in prison. He told me my mom died on the Friday. Like, a week before I found out. He told me he called about seven or eight times, left messages, and nobody would get back to him.
HDL: Did you have a long time to speak on the telephone?
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Lisa: Two minutes. Exactly, two minutes. I was very close to my mom. She knew everything about me. We were very close. When I was in prison she had no money to put on the phone but we would write back and forth frequently. She was my biggest supporter when I was there.
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HDL: How much money did you need to put on the phone to call? How does that work?
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Lisa: Twenty dollars, but my mom she just lost the apartment. She was staying in rooms. She didn't have the money. I talked to her twice while I was in prison.
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