ADULT DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM GETS FIRST PARTICIPANT

Voluntary Court Program Helps Qualified Participants Kick Drug,
Alcohol Habits

Staying awake for two to three days at a time -- moving in a frenzy
from activity to activity -- then crashing for two days -- straight,
is a cycle Loretta Bussing wholeheartedly wants to break.

After being addicted to crack cocaine for 11 years, the 40-year Grand
Haven resident has the support of many people to jump to the other
"side of the fence," including many of those in the court system.

Bussing, who was convicted of a felony drug charge earlier this week,
is the first person to participate in Ottawa County Circuit Court's
felony adult drug court program -- a voluntary program for approved
convicts to help stop drug and alcohol abuse and other criminal activity.

Ottawa County has three drug court divisions: the District Court
division, which started in May 2004; the Circuit Court Juvenile
division, which started in October 2004; and the Circuit Court adult
felony division, which began earlier this month.

"The differences between the three programs, besides the age, is the
length of the programs, the treatment itself and the style of
treatment," Ottawa County Circuit Court Administrator Kevin Bowling
said. "Juvenile drug programs are about eight to 12 months; in
District Court it's 18 to 24 months and in the adult felony program
it's 16 to 18 months."

While the District Court drug court division has seen myriad
participants, the Circuit Court divisions have seen seven participants
- -- six of whom are juveniles -- and one adult, Bussing, who began her
drug court participation Friday.

When police arrested Bussing last month for possession of cocaine --
her first drug-related conviction, she said, that was the wake-up call
that changed her life.

When attorney Joe Legatz contacted her about her upcoming court
appearances and the possible jail time she might serve, he also told
her about the new drug treatment court program. Bussing's initial
thoughts: "I didn't want to go to prison," she said.

As Bussing pleaded guilty Monday in Ottawa County 20th Circuit Court
to possession of cocaine, Legatz and Circuit Judge Ed Post praised her
for wanting to participate in the program and put an end to her drug
addiction.

"This is a first for us," Post said smiling widely. "We're all pulling
for you to make it because it's new to us and new to you. I will be
following your progress closely."

As a drug court participant, Bussing will now go before Circuit Judge
Mark A. Feyen every other Friday and other law enforcement-type
officials on a regular basis, as well as take urine tests for drug or
alcohol use.

"For myself, I chose to do this because I want to stop," Bussing said
of her cocaine addiction."If you choose not to stop what you're doing
(drugs and alcohol), then there's going to be further problems. You've
got people who love you, who can help you -- other than that, you're
looking at sitting behind bars and not doing a (darn) thing ..."

Although participation in the adult drug court program is voluntary,
there are several levels of assessment a person must go through to
determine whether the person has a serious substance abuse "problem,"
said Bowling, the Circuit Court administrator.

Upon passing the assessments, the person, who must also be deemed
non-violent, is entered into a computer system and is chosen at random
to participate in the drug court treatment program. Only 25 people
will be chosen to participate in this year's adult program, according
to court officials.

Those who do not get chosen to participate will simultaneously go
through a controlled system in the court, Feyen explained. Then the
two groups will be closely observed and evaluated to see if the drug
court system is successful in its purpose.