On May 14, 2014 the DeKalb County Drug/DUI Court program held a special celebration for three of its participants. The celebration was in honor of each participant having maintained one year of sobriety. Crystal Baker, John Pedigo and Tawanna Petty were each presented with a framed certificate noting their period of continuous sobriety and also received a gift certificate. The DeKalb County Drug/DUI Court program utilizes individualized treatment plans based on the participants’ needs, which include, but are not limited to residential inpatient treatment, a 6 week Lifeskills course, a 12 week relapse prevention program, Moral Reconation Therapy, individual and group counseling as well as all participants being required to attend 12-step meetings (Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous). These programs and treatment, in conjunction with frequent monitoring, weekly random drug testing and judicial supervision are what make the program so successful.
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner E. Douglas Varney said in his Spring 2014 Update in regards to Tennessee’s Drug/Recovery Courts that, “We are facing a major prescription drug problem in our state. We need to focus all of our resources in the most efficient, effective, and collaborative way to maximize our impact on this issue and drug abuse overall. And because so many people who are dealing with a substance abuse issue also have a mental health issue—a situation referred to as a co-occurring disorder—these Recovery Courts (“Drug Court”) will be able to help them get all the help that they need at one time and in one location.” The DeKalb County Drug/DUI Court is funded by multiple sources which include the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, court fees and fines of individuals charged with drug or alcohol related charges, additional funding appropriated through the County Commission and through donations of time from the Honorable Judge Bratten Hale Cook II, the Office of the District Attorney General, the Office of the District Public Defender , Sheriff Patrick Ray, Haven of Hope Counseling and Community Probation Services.
(Pictured above left to right: John Quintero (Treatment Provider at Haven of Hope), Crystal Baker (Drug Court Participant), Kristy Longmire (Drug Court Case Manager), Judge Bratten H. (Butch) Cook, II, Tawanna Petty (Drug Court participant), John Pedigo (Drug Court participant), Norene Puckett (Drug Court Coordinator), Ryan Sullivan (Alumni), Ashley Lasser (Probation Officer), Kay Quintero (Treatment Provider at Haven of Hope). Not pictured: Sheriff Patrick Ray, Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong, and Assistant Public Defender Allison West
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