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LISA BUL/The Patriot Ledger |
| Quincy men Michael Gavin, 22, left, and Michael Gallagher, 25, are serving time in Norfolk County House of Correction in Dedham for drug-fueled crimes. Both started using heroin as young men and say they want to quit – but don’t know if they can. |
Regrets and worries
Michael Gallagher worries about getting out of jail. The last time, the days dragged on through the plainness of his existence - eight hours of work, an apartment in a Quincy neighborhood, regular drug tests.
Always, there was the pull of his old life, a life that wouldn’t leave him alone.
A memory that makes him cringe: “My girlfriend got me a new pair of shoes for my birthday. The first thing I did was put them back in the box and sell them to buy dope. It’s sick, the things I’ve done.”
In a library in the Norfolk County House of Correction, where he will stay until at least August because he violated his probation by taking more heroin, Gallagher, 25, spoke about his addiction.
He used to steal small appliances - coffee makers and toasters - and sell them to a fence. He had a friend who did it with him. The friend died of an overdose.
Seeing a death inspired him to quit heroin, but eventually that inspiration broke.
“It controls your thoughts. It physically controls you,” Gallagher said. “You’ll do anything to get it. Nothing else matters.”
Gallagher doesn’t know if he can stay away from heroin. Introspection has taught him enough about life outside prison- to know he’s not ready to live it sober.
“I could have gotten out already,” he said. “My friends say I’m crazy, but I don’t want to. I know what I went through the last time out there. I am capable of picking it up again.”
Casey Ross may be reached by clicking here.
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