cannabisnews.com: Ex-Addict Takes Chance on Sobriety!





Ex-Addict Takes Chance on Sobriety!
Posted by FoM on April 18, 1999 at 16:45:15 PT
Source: Beacon Journal
CANTON: Ask Eugene Brown and he'll tell you: Getting arrested for cocaine possession saved his life.The 47-year-old Alliance man has been clean for about 240 days; no more scouring the streets for cocaine, no more snorting, no more hangovers.
He's traded his coke habit for another craving -- fish fillets and hush puppies from Long John Silver's. And the construction worker credits Stark County's Chance program, a 12-month specialized drug court option for nonviolent offenders.``It's given me purpose -- a purpose in life,'' he said after a recent appearance in Judge John Haas' weekly Chance drug court session. ``It's given me a chance to clean up my act and do what I'm supposed to do in regard to my family and other responsibilities.''The Chance program is in its infancy in Stark County, but is one of more than 300 similar programs operating across the country. It began in July on a small scale using county funds and expanded in October through a $373,000 federal grant. It's an exclusive club, open only to lower-level felony offenders with no history of violence.In the first nine months of the program, 235 offenders applied and only 55 were accepted. Forty remain after 15 were removed for failing to fulfill the program's obligations.Chance organizers say probation is generally much easier. But for those seeking a second chance and a drug-free life, Chance offers recovery and a clean record.``Getting through the program is a difficult thing to do,'' said program counselor John Peterson. ``They're really addicted, they get cravings. So, we talk to them about the negative consequences of using, the situations they get into where they're tempted to use (drugs) and we talk about the alternatives to drug use.''The program consists of three phases. In the first eight weeks, the offender must attend three hours of intensive outpatient counseling sessions three times a week, report to program coordinators twice a week, appear before Haas for a progress report once a week, undergo random drug testing twice a week and attend at a 12-step recovery program once a week.During the next 16 weeks, offenders attend standard outpatient counseling for two hours twice a week, report to coordinators two days a week, appear before Haas twice a month, submit to drug testing twice a week and attend the 12-step program one to two times each week.The final 28 weeks include attendance once a week at a two-hour relapse group meeting, in addition to continuing the previous requirements.The program also offers job assistance, anger management counseling, life skills groups, educational assistance and parenting classes. Haas rewards successful clients such as Brown, offering applause for staying clean or securing a job and free merchandise coupons donated by local businesses for positive progress during the yearlong program. A graduation is planned for July for the first clients to complete the program. A clean criminal record will be a symbol of their diploma.Haas also punishes unsuccessful candidates with words of admonishment and orders to perform community service. If the clients continue to fail, the case is referred back to the original common pleas court judge for sentencing. In that case, they're likely headed to jail.``It's a chance for them to change their lives around, to be drug free, have a job and give them a sense of accomplishment,'' Haas said. ``They also understand that if they screw up, the stakes are much higher for them.''Haas takes a no-nonsense approach to the court -- and has a low tolerance for lying and excuses. In one recent case, a man tried to explain his positive test for marijuana use by saying he smoked tobacco from a pipe that had been used by someone else to smoke the drug. Haas ordered the man to write an essay on the importance of the program or face expulsion.``Don't try to B.S. me,'' Haas said. ``I want to see you get with the program. If you're not up to it, we'll find out in a hurry and you'll be out.''Chief Stark County Prosecutor Dennis Barr and assistant public defender April Bible said the program benefits more than the offender. The public benefits by less crowded jails, fewer criminal offenses committed by drug addicts pursuing lives of crime to feed their urges.``If you take the drug problem away, you won't have people repeating their crimes,'' Bible said.Prior to the program, about 50 percent of the county's docket was filled with low-level felony offenders, many of them repeat offenders with drug problems.``I believe in being tough on crime and sending people to the penitentiary,'' Barr said. ``But that way wasn't working -- and it was obvious.''
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