County drug court celebrates new graduates
Diane Dalke receives accolades from Judge Manley and from her own family in recognition of her achievement of graduating from Lake County Drug Court into a new successful life. Diane started nursing school recently. (Carolyn Hidy/Lake County Leader)
Reclaiming his life, Harold Mitchell (center) receives his hard-earned diploma for successfully completing Lake County Drug Court’s addiction treatment program from Judge James A. Manley, with support from the program’s director, Jay Brewer. (Carolyn Hidy/Lake County Leader)
Drug court is proof positive that people can turn their lives around. You might say, it just takes a little help from our friends.
Two citizens graduated from the two-year old Lake County Drug Court program Oct. 17, marking and celebrating a huge moment of progress in the graduates’ lives.
Graduate Harold Mitchell has come from addiction and trouble with the law to owning a successful and respected painting business.
Graduate Diane Dalke has earned “more higher certifications than anyone in the history of the program,” said Judge Jim Manley, but most importantly, she has regained custody of her children. Working as a dialysis technician currently, Diane enters nursing school next week.
One participant spoke to the program’s effectiveness, emphasizing the difference between this program and treatment programs while incarcerated.
“I would think I had learned all the tools I needed, but then I would get out and ten days or a month later, be right back to the same stuff,” he said. “It was like learning in a box, but this program helps me learn how to apply those tools in real life.” He has now regained full custody of his daughter.
“You can’t treat addiction in prison,” agrees Melanie Melgren-Sidmore, and assistant to Drug Court director Jay Brewer.”
“Ten years ago, we didn’t know what we know now about addiction,” Melanie says. “We can now map the pathway that a brain follows once it is addicted.”
When faced with painful circumstances or stress, an addicted brain routes away from dealing with it, through the addictive behavior, to the pleasure center. Through practice, she says, it is possible to train one’s brain to develop new pathways.
“The brain is neuroplastic,” she says, meaning it can reorganize itself by forming new connections.
Possible, but not easy, as the folks involved in Drug Court have all experienced. Participants are directed to the program by the courts as part of sentencing for law violations related to addiction and include wearing SCRAM bracelets that monitor to ensure they are not using prohibited substances. The program is intense, with strict requirements for employment, treatment, meetings, regular blood tests, probation check-ins, peer support, and ensuring a safe living environment away from others who are using addictive substances or creating bad influences. A large team of specialists work together to help keep participants on task and providing one-on-one support when stressful situations arise.
Lake County’s Drug Court has adapted a national program to “fit cultural boundaries,” Melanie says, including the needs of tribal members.
“These participants are working very hard,” said Judge Manley. “This is probably one of the hardest things to do in life.” He acknowledged that some of them may feel they aren’t getting anywhere yet, and encouraged them. “It takes at least six months for a brain to start to heal. Some may take 18 months. Your brain does have the ability to heal — it just takes time.”
“The hardest thing might be the realization that once you kick the addiction, regular life is still hard,” Manley said. “Success is more because of the bonds we’ve formed with each other than anything else.”