NEW DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM ALLOWS DRUG OFFENDERS TO GET CLEAN

DeKalb County Drug Court gives convicted addicts an opportunity to
receive treatment before incarceration.

The program, Choosing Life and Ending Abuse Now (CLEAN), was
established in October 2006 to give nonviolent substance abuse
offenders a drug-free way of life, according the court's Web site.

"They have to want to come in," said drug court coordinator Marilyn
Stromborg. "They choose us and we choose them."

The applicants are selected with tests and screening. After being
accepted into the program, they plead their crime to the drug court
or are dismissed to jail, Stromborg said.

The program takes about 14 months, without relapse, to complete.

Some of the requirements include DeKalb County residency, calls to
Stromborg by 8:30 a.m. every day to check in, frequent and random
drug testing and employment to work to pay back restitution.

Joe Hanning, the drug court's probation officer, makes scheduled and
random visits at least once a week to the participants' homes to
make sure they are in compliance with the program and with treatment
providers.

There are currently about 17 participants ranging in age from 18 to
early 50s, Stromborg said, adding that the average participant is in
his or her mid– to late–30s.

Team members of the drug court believe the treatment works and will
not only benefit the abuser, but also community.

"It is a very positive program for participants," Hanning said.

Ron Matekaitis, DeKalb County state's attorney and drug court team
member, originally thought punishment of the abusers was the best
course of action to ensure public safety. After working with the
program, Matekaitis now believes the approach of treatment mixed
with punishment is better to enhance public safety long-term.

"Even if you lock up an addict, they are still going to be an addict
when they get out," Matekaitis said.

The state of Illinois allows someone to go through the program only once.

Other states and counties have drug courts similar to DeKalb.

"There are over 2,000 across the nation," Hanning said.