FORMER ADDICTS FINISH PROGRAM

Four Receive "Diplomas" From Oswego County Drug Treatment Court

Deb Bennett said she spent the last decade addicted to crack cocaine. She
smoked and sold drugs as often as possible until she was arrested a year
and a half ago for selling the drug to a police officer in Fulton.

It turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to Bennett.

The day after her arrest, on Nov. 3, 2001, Bennett spent her 36th birthday
in jail. The same day, she found out she was 41/2 months pregnant.

"It was scary," the North Syracuse woman said, adding that she never
thought she could have a child. "It changed my whole life."

A year ago, Bennett gave birth to a drug-free baby girl, Shamae.

Monday, she did something else she never thought possible - Bennett and
three others graduated from Oswego County Drug Treatment Court. They
received "diplomas" from County Judge James McCarthy in a courtroom
ceremony attended by prosecutors, police, legislators, lawyers, addiction
counselors and nearly 80 addicts still in the program.

"The reason you're in drug court is that we believe in you, but you took
the first step by coming here," McCarthy said. "We all have ups and downs.
Nobody's free of problems. But you only get one chance at life, and drugs
are a waste of life. You deserve a lot of support and admiration for coming
here and (completing) drug treatment court."

The program allows people who commit nonviolent crimes because of drug
addiction to avoid prison if they complete a minimum one-year sentence of
one drug-treatment session per week, three group therapy sessions per week,
three self-help meetings per week and one drug court appearance per week,
plus random drug tests.

Since the program began in August 1999, 27 people have graduated, program
coordinator Dave Guyer said.

John Skripnik, 52, of Ithaca, said he spent the last 25 years addicted to
alcohol and cocaine. Skripnik, a videographer, graduated Monday from Oswego
County Drug Treatment Court and said he's now working with Tompkins County
to put together a video about its drug treatment court.

"I was addicted to a little bit of everything. I tried alcohol when I was
13. I started smoking marijuana at 19 and cocaine at 33," he said.
"Twenty-five years of addiction kind of beats you down pretty badly."

The goal of drug treatment courts throughout the state and nation is to
save taxpayer money by treating addicts instead of jailing them, Guyer
said. Studies show that people who graduate from drug treatment courts are
less likely to commit more crimes than are people in the regular court system.

Sheriff Reuel Todd compared the program to a bulletproof vest. The vest,
labeled "Second Chance," saved a local police officer's life many years
ago, Todd said.

"Drug treatment court can be your bulletproof vest," he said. "It will give
you the second chance you need to live your life. Let this protect you."