Eight graduate from local Drug Court program

Published 4:30 pm Monday, August 26, 2024

lance.gaither@bluegrassnewsmedia.com

A graduation ceremony was held Aug. 15 for eight people who have completed their treatment and rehabilitation program with the Boyle-Mercer County Drug Court.

At the graduation, guest speaker Amy Anness, from the Boyle County Health Department Syringe Exchange program, spoke about how the drug court helped change her life a decade ago.

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“As somebody in long-term recovery, drug court is something near and dear to my heart. I stood before a judge, and this program wasn’t available to me in 2014,” Anness said. “I’m forever grateful that these people have been given the opportunity of the drug court. I’ve gotten to see these individuals grow and how this program has impacted their lives and the lives of their friends and families. I have seen them gain things back and make amends.”

Program graduate Justin Johnson said the drug court program helped him gain a new outlook on life.

“I’m super grateful for drug court,” Johnson said. “I still go to meetings and tell everybody I can that I am so thankful for the program. Drug court gave me a second chance and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Both of Johnson’s parents struggled with substance abuse issues.

“I lived with them until I was six; my grandparents raised me from there,” Johnson said. “In middle school, I was really rebellious and started smoking weed. In high school, I started using harder drugs and dropped out of school.”

The drug court helped Johnson break free from a vicious cycle.

“When I was 18, I was caught in a pretty big robbery case,” Johnson said. “I was in and out of jail from when I was 18 until I was about 24. I was homeless in Danville. My family had shown me tough love and cut me off. I was at my lowest of lows when I was offered drug court. I didn’t want to do it, but I knew I had to do something different. I had been in and out of jail and in and out of rehab. The night before my first drug court date, I overdosed, which was a huge wakeup call for me.”

The program also helped graduate Nicole Burton be able to support her family again.

“It is an honor to be able to help take care of them,” Burton said. “I could have had them taken away or unable to support them. I am a respected member of the community.”

Drug court helped Burton feel valued as a person.

“I had no clue how to live outside of facilities; that is what drug court offered,” Burton said. “When I lost all hope in myself, God stepped in. I was scared to death at first. I had tried to get sober but didn’t know how to stay sober for long. I felt like I thought I had lost my purpose in life; I didn’t have my children. Drug court showed me support and gave me hope that I could be a good mom and get back on my feet. The people in this program want to see you succeed.”

Drug court helped Burton get an education.

“The legal team is amazing; the program has redirected my life,” Burton said. “I’ll be graduating from Sullivan University in October. I have earned my peer support certificate. Devastating things happen to everybody; it is how we go about it. I was going about it the wrong way, and the drug court helped me turn it around.”

The Boyle-Mercer County Drug Court program began in 2023 and addresses substance abuse issues among offenders. It combines court supervision, substance abuse treatment, and support services to promote recovery and reduce recidivism. Those in the court system who struggle with substance abuse get the opportunity to complete a treatment program in lieu of jail time.

The eight graduates of the program were Glenlee Philhower, Amber McGrath, Nicole Burton, Vyctoria Poland, Joshua Minton, Gregory Hume, Tyler Fryman, and Justin Johnson.