Celebrating 10 Years of Drug Court

June 4, 2009

Tonight I had the privilege of attending the Yuma County Adult Probation Office Drug Court graduation ceremony. Every drug court graduation is special but this one tonight was extra special. APO was celebrating the 39th graduation in 10 years. What a record. Retired Judge, the Honorable Tom C. Cole was the main speaker. Judge Cole was instrumental in starting drug court in Yuma County. I was thrilled to witness the 16 graduates receive their certificates of graduation. Families united; healthy looking people of all ages; tax paying citizens; and smiles indicating joy from the inside out. What a testament to change!

Crossroads Mission is proud to partner with Drug Court. Often drug court participants are court ordered to the residential program at the Mission. Once they complete the program at Crossroads, they return to the county program. The participants then complete the remaining “sentence” of the drug court program. The combined support of the residential program followed by the support of the drug court program reinforces recovery goals. Not everyone has or needs such an intensive program but the longer an individual can stay in a program, the opportunities for staying sober are increased exponentially.

Drug court programs across the United States have helped addicts deal with the disease of addiction. Learning to live with the disease or perhaps learning to live past the disease (a better way to say it) is a matter of using the tools of recovery to stay sober. Crossroads Mission philosophy is the principles of a 12-step program coupled with a spiritual “awakening” in Jesus Christ to help people move into the action stage of change. The residential program followed by the groups, accountability, and long term support of drug court provide ample support to people who might very well be dead or serving prison sentences. Please remember that prison itself is something but the prison “bars” created by the addiction itself are just as debilitating as any locked facility.

I was reminded tonight that there are several good programs in the Yuma community for the treatment of drug or alcohol abuse. Some might look at the so many programs as being competitive but when we help make healthier, safer, drug-free neighborhoods, we are united for the greater good—a better community. Drug Court in Yuma County has made a difference in this community for 10 years. Crossroads Mission has made a difference in this community for 50 years. Yuma County’s Adult Probation Drug Court collaborating with Crossroads Mission is paying dividends to this community. The Yuma County Board of Supervisors should be commended for continuing to support programs such as drug court.