Newport New Drug Court Offers New Beginnings!
On yesterday we posted about the nation’s Drug Czar plans to double budget for Drug court funding,today we will take a look at some of the results of one Drug court in Newport News Virginia. The article tells the story of Tyra Gomesalong with ten others that graduadted. I had to fight back tears reading there story its much like my own,only I did not go to drug court but I have recovered so I know the joy and the sorrow.
At the lowest point of her addiction to drugs, Tyra Gomes sold her body for 40 bucks.
Her addiction made her justify cashing stolen checks for her drug dealer. It was worth the quick fix. It was worth the high. Her love for cocaine, crack, marijuana and alcohol almost stole her life.
Gomes, 30, has stepped out of the fog of addiction and has been sober for 18 months. She and 10 others graduated from the Newport News Drug Treatment Court Program Friday afternoon inside the City Council chambers.
“You have to figure out what you really want,” Gomes said. “Do you really want to live like this for the rest of your life?”
Gomes is now in school to become a social worker and wants to eventually counsel drug addicted women in prison.
The program started in 1998 through a federal grant. Participants, who must meet a set of goals to graduate, go through weekly to monthly court appearances, drug testing and group therapy. Between $3,000 and $5,000 is spent on each participant. This is the program’s 10th graduating class.
Circuit Court Judge Timothy Fisher told the graduates there is one goal of the drug court program: “To make you a normal and ordinary person — not a superstar, but just like everyone else.”
Sen. John Miller was the keynote speaker.
“You have faced things that many in this room have not, and had they faced them, may have not been able to overcome them,” Miller said. “You are the reason you are here. You are the reason you are graduating.”
The road of recovery is not over for the graduates. They are required to check in once a month for six months to a year, according to program administrator John Haywood.
The participants must also demonstrate financial responsibility.
“All of our drug court participants must be employed and save 10 percent of their salaries and have a steady place to live,” said Haywood, who said none of last year’s graduates have relapsed.
When graduate Teresa Williams entered the program in 2006 she’d used crack cocaine for 13 years. She hasn’t used drugs in 772 days.
“I have so many more options in life,” said Williams, who plans to pursue a nursing degree. “There’s nothing I’m not capable of accomplishing in my life.”
Ronald Haggar has been clean for 866 days — almost two and a half years. His mother, Miriam Little, spoke during the graduation.
“Inspite of all of this I’ve learned the term ‘tough love,’” she said. “He’s gone from being homeless to having a I’home and taking responsibility… . He was determined that he would graduate and so you have,” she said, looking at him.
Shortly after his mother spoke Haggar accepted his certificate. Still moved by his mother’s remarks he wept for a moment at the podium. Then he regained his composure.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “But it’s here.”
Reading this at my desk this morning bought me to tears because I relate to there story thats why I do this day end and day out.I believe and promote recovery.Because Recovery Is Possible All Day Every Day,at williamjordandirect we are fghting to keep the war on drugs alive that’s the purpose of this blog every day we hope to bring attention to drug abuse and whats a stake a life one life at a time we can win the drug war.
Source Chicago Tribune .com
Author Ashely Kelly
The Cost of Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and addiction cost federal, state and local governments more than $460 billion in 2005, a new report indicates. The same report, “Shoveling Up II: The Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets,” also put spending related to substance abuse in Ohio at nearly $5.4 billion, or nearly $469 per capita.
The report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is the result of a three-year study to assess the costs of tobacco, alcohol and illegal and prescription drug abuse at all levels of government. Using the most conservative assumptions, the report said, the study concluded that the federal government spent $238.2 billion, states $135.8 billion, and local governments $93.8 billion in 2005, the most recent year for which data were available.
The report found that of $373.9 billion, 95.6%, or $357.4 billion, went to address the consequences of substance abuse and addiction, while only 1.9% went to prevention and treatment, 0.4% to research, 1.4% to taxation and 0.7% to interdiction.
Ohio’s spending on substance abuse’s consequences totaled $4.9 billion, roughly 12% of state spending in 2005, while spending on prevention, treatment and research only accounted for 0.3% of the overall state budget. For every dollar spent on substance abuse, 1 cent went to prevention, 1 cent to treatment, 7 cents to regulation and compliance, and 90 cents to cover the associated burden on public services.
“This report clearly illustrates the astounding impact untreated substance abuse and addiction has on our state’s bottom line,” said Angela Cornelius Dawson, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. “While the economic forces that are driving budget decisions are out of our control, it is imperative that we focus our efforts on strategic investments that can save our state money. Alcohol and drug addiction services are one such investment that continues to demonstrate a positive return.”
In fact, her office and the National Institute on Drug Abuse both estimate that every dollar spent on prevention saves $7 in related expenses.
We at williamjordandirect the recovery is possible all day people feel that the public needs to be informed on drug abuse.The lie that this illness is not treatable and preventable has to be smashed.This cost could be reduced if measures are taken to treat and prevent the illness.
Source Published 2009 The Business Journal, Youngstown,
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Is Now One of Top American Health Promblem
If there was a disease suffered by one out of every ten Americans over twelve years of age,wouldn’t you agree that this disease was raging out of control.Look no futher that’s the case with drug abuse and dependence. When I sat at my desk this morning this headline met my eyes at williamjordandirect where recovery is possible all day everyday we look to keep America informed on abuse issues.
We fee that the fight aginst drugs in America is at stake,its not time to give up we believe that a new approach is necessary to combat drugs in America.We have call for a three point approach,education prevention,and treatment.
Source Pk urgent
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