Seventeenth Of Ongoing Series

MANY PEAKS, AND A FEW VALLEYS, IN DRUG COURT

'Rabbit' Offered The Chance To Return

Note: The following article is the 17th in a series regarding the creation
of the Fifth Judicial District Drug Court Program recently implemented in
Pahrump. Because drug court is designed to treat addiction rather than
prosecute users as is done in criminal courts, the identities of
participants will be altered for purposes of confidentiality; their
photographs will not be printed.

The up and down roller coaster of the ride that is drug court definitely
peaked Monday afternoon when Judge Robert Lane and the drug court team had
the pleasure of congratulating each and every participant for having a good
week.

Granted, a few of the more troublesome cases were not around to spoil the
fun. Joan remains a fugitive after failing to appear for the Aug. 12
session. John is in an in-house treatment program in Las Vegas, and Amy
will soon join him.

The remaining participants learned an unexpected surprise awaits them when
everyone does well. Monday's session lasted all of 30 minutes. The
equation: clean drug tests plus meeting other requirements equals fewer
lectures from the judge.

While a few participants have turned in mixed performances, Fred, Cathy,
Joe, and Paul have been stellar. They have been beacons of light; they have
demonstrated the promise of drug court, and have taken exemplary steps in
getting their personal lives in order.

A few short months ago Fred and his wife were living in an ancient bus in
squalid conditions. They had a two-year-old baby and Fred's wife was
pregnant. They were using meth, and as they got spun on crystal their lives
spun out of control.

The pair was arrested after police conducted a welfare check and discovered
both were under the influence. The following day Fred's wife gave birth
prematurely. The state took custody of their children.

Fred wound up in drug court, his wife in an in-house treatment facility.
Since that time, Fred has secured a good job; he has found a three-bedroom
home for his family. His wife successfully completed rehab and hopes to
gain entry into drug court. The pair was all smiles Monday afternoon. They
said, "things are going great" in their efforts to reunite with their children.

Since coming into the program, Fred has never tested dirty for drugs, and
he has made his mandatory 12-step meetings and counseling sessions.

While not as dramatic if only for the lack of children involved in his
circumstances, Joe's rise has been inspirational. Homeless and addicted a
few months ago, Joe took to stealing to fund his need for speed.

Since coming into drug court Joe has stayed clean. He found a job right out
of jail and recently upgraded to a better job, one that will teach him
skills he could use for the rest of his life. Like Fred, Joe has never
failed a drug test since coming into the program, and he is doing well in
meeting his other obligations.

Next month, a GED program begins and Joe will have to attend and graduate
if he wants to successfully complete the drug court program.

Paul's tests continue to be drug-free, but there are apparent concerns with
the drug court team. Lane ordered the man to submit to a comprehensive lab
analysis. Paul readily agreed. The man told Lane he has benefited from his
counseling sessions and 12-step meetings. The head of a large family, Paul
said his biggest worries these days are financial.

"I had a flat tire on my way to work this morning and I ran out of gas
coming here this afternoon," he said. With wife and young children in tow,
Paul hiked to drug court rather than miss a session.

He will join Joe next month in the GED program.

Once a concern for the drug court team as the only participant not on
formal probation, Cathy has excelled. Three months away from giving birth
to her and husband Greg's child, Cathy attended Monday's session even
though she didn't have to. (Cathy, Joe, Fred, and Paul have all advanced to
phase two of the three-phase program. Participants in the advanced phases
attend court every other week. Fred also attends weekly meetings.)

Other than being frightened by Bailiff Brian Norton when he conducted a
surprise curfew check at her home last week, Cathy said things are going
well. Her husband Greg could not say the same, though it is reasonably
clear the man did not smoke pot last week.

Greg has done well in the program insofar as he has avoided meth, but he
occasionally burns a joint and that landed him in jail for seven days. He
was "excited" to get out Monday afternoon after serving his sanction. "I
think I got the picture," he said with a chuckle. "I've contemplated the
consequences and I realized next time is two weeks."

Greg doesn't have an appetite for incarceration. "I'm not like other guys
going in there to hang with my homies. They put me in there with hardcore
cases. I was hoping they'd put me in the misdemeanor tank."

Vicki also ended her stay at the Pahrump jail on Monday afternoon after
testing positive - again - for using meth. "You can't stay in phase one
forever," said Lane to the woman. She agreed and promised to quit using.
Vicki also advised the court she has another back surgery pending and
expressed fears she might not be allowed to stay in the program while in
recovery. Lane assured her steps would be taken to accommodate her.

Since coming into the program, Theresa has been no different than most of
her peers when it comes to using meth. Last week, however, Theresa's tests
were clean, she made her appointments, and found a decent job. Liz and
Theresa could be in a race to see which young woman first advances to phase
two.

Liz has made her counseling sessions, her tests have been drug-free, and
she even made a service commitment to her 12-step club. "I agreed to be the
treasurer," she said.

Lane offered praise to each participant, even Dennis, who has had good
weeks followed by bad weeks since coming into the program. Last week was a
good one for Dennis, who spent a couple of days in jail for testing dirty.
Lane warned Dennis he has a "harder hammer" over his head because of his
up-and-down performance to date. "You have to avoid drug use," said the judge.

"That's my objective," replied Dennis.

To Joan, who for whatever reason decided to go rabbit, Lane offered a plea:
"If you see her tell her it is not too late. She hasn't been kicked out yet
so have her call us and tell us what's going on."

If anything has become obvious the past 17 weeks, it is that addicts try to
take it one day at a time. Sometimes they have to take it one hour at a
time, and they don't always succeed. Good weeks followed by bad weeks and
the personal battles continue.