Adult Drug Court Celebrates Its Graduates

Press release provided by the Humboldt County Probation Department:

The Adult Drug Court Program invites the public to celebrate the completion of its program by 11 participants. The Humboldt County Probation Department is proud to celebrate over 200 participants successfully completing the program in the last 10 years. Come join them in honoring the 11 most recent graduates who have chosen to make themselves productive members of this community. The celebration will take place on June 5 at the jury selection room on the ground floor of the Humboldt County Courthouse.

All graduates were addicted to methamphetamine, heroin or both and found themselves entangled in the criminal justice system. Drug Court offered them the opportunity to change their lives. Through the progressive eyes of the Court and your Probation Department, the Adult Drug Court Program was incorporated into our criminal system in Humboldt County in 1997. It is an 18-month program with intensive supervision, frequent drug and alcohol testing and supportive interventions and therapy. Many who enter the program do not succeed. Many reject the offer while in jail because they have heard how difficult it is. All of our recent graduates completed a residential treatment program, transitioned into the community with job requirements, as well as personal goals of reunifying with family who, for the most part, believed their loved ones would end up dead.

Nine graduates are employed full-time and are making restitution payments to the county and their victims. Many have obtained their California driver’s license. All have goals and dreams for the future.

Statistics prove that 75 percent of Drug Court graduates will never return to the criminal system. What statistics do not reflect is the effect their transformation has on their family, their children, their friends and their community. They inspire all those around them to believe in the ability we have as human beings to overcome horrible abuse, pain and suffering and face our demons without the crutch of intoxicating substances.

Please join us on June 5 to hear the stories of our local heroes who were not afraid to change habits and, even when they suffered setbacks, did not give up but continued on in their fight for sobriety.