MANSFIELD — “Hi, I’m Dawn Bias, and I’m a recovering addict.”
Bias’ practiced words resonated in the hearts of 21 recovering drug and alcohol clients during Mansfield Municipal Treatment Court’s graduation ceremony at Catalyst Life Services Wednesday.
Bias, a drug court graduate, has been sober for a little more than two years. Since reaching sobriety, she has completed her GED, enrolled in college and maintained a 3.9 grade point average. She hopes to be a drug and alcohol counselor when she finishes school.
When she was sentenced to go through drug court rehabilitation, she only weighed 83 pounds.
“I know you’re scared,” she said, addressing the graduates. “There’s no structure for you anymore. I had some friends who graduated and relapsed. And it’s sad.
“But the key to staying sober is structure. I don’t care what it is. Go to college, take care of your kids. Whatever, just do it for yourself.”
Bias said it takes a fight, and she encouraged the graduates to keep fighting the fight.
Judge Jerry Ault reinforced that message.
“Those who graduate are strong, strong people,” Ault said. “It’s a fight none of us can imagine.”
Ault remembers when the drug court concept was a national movement in the ’90s. The county’s drug court was first established by Judge James Henson in 1997 and Ault downplayed its effectiveness.
“I thought it was B.S.,” he said. “But when I finally learned what it is, I learned it is the toughest thing probationers will ever do.”
For the most part, he now believes the drug court works. In Richland County, Ault said 80 percent of the graduates stay sober. The other 20 percent statistically have “run-ins” with the police.
“But compare that with 60 percent in the general population who have a re-offense (relapse),” Ault said. “That’s pretty good.”
Nationally, the model has been proven popular. As of May 2008, there were over 2,400 drug courts in all 50 states, according to the National Drug Court Institute.
Ault said the program typically lasts a year, but at the discretion of a judge. If the judge notices patterns of behavior that may lead to additional relapses, more time is tacked on to the rehabilitation process.
Despite its success in Richland County, Judge Frank Ardis gave the crowd a somber reminder.
“This is one of the largest graduating classes,” he noted. “Although I’m glad you’re all here, it exemplifies the problem in our area, there is a lot of substance abuse. And obviously, it’s gotten worse over the years — otherwise we wouldn’t have all of you here today.”
But he still believes in the program.
“We’ll continue to help until there’s less than half of the people here. I’ll be more gleeful when that happens,” Ardis said.
Stephen McFarland was one of the 21 graduates. He chose to address the crowd to express gratitude to the program.
“I have new beginnings thanks to this. I can honestly say I owe my life to that process. My life is better than it ever has been,” McFarland said.
