DRUG COURT SUCCEEDS ONE ADDICT AT A TIME

YORK , S.C. - Nine months after York County began its first drug treatment
court, participants say the program is changing their lives: Drug users
addicted for years say their personal relationships are more meaningful,
their families trust them more, and they take pride in honest work.

- -- Since the program began in October, 32 people have participated,
according to program officials.

Six were kicked out for failing to meet the program's requirements, which
include staying off drugs, attending regular counseling sessions and
showing up for court every week.

That's not bad for a drug court program in its first year, officials say.

The addicts come to court with excuses so pitiful they make other criminals
shake their heads.

Time and time again, they say, they've tried to stay clean of drugs and
live decent lives, but somehow they always manage to blow it. Some get
caught stealing. Others are busted driving while drunk. Even more are
snagged for, once again, having or using drugs.

Some participants say drug court works better than other programs they've
tried because the rigorous counseling requirements and frequent drug tests
force them to stay clean. And if they fail, they go to jail.

Jim, a 45-year-old Rock Hill construction worker, was arrested in August
when a police officer stopped his car for an improper lane change. High on
drugs and toting an open beer can, Jim was sent to jail, where he faced
10-15 years in prison because of his prior convictions.

"I've gotten to where I don't miss going out and drinking and doing drugs.
Before, when I tried to quit, I always missed it," said Jim, who had been
addicted to cocaine and alcohol for 30 years and has been in the program
since February. "I'm very grateful that I was one of the few who got
selected because right now I know where I'd be."

Program organizers and participants asked that the real names of
participants not be published.

In return for pleading guilty to the charges against them, addicts get 12
to 18 months of intensive treatment instead of being sent to jail. The
charges are dropped if they succeed.

Only nonviolent offenders are selected for the program, and they must
volunteer to participate.

Program director Janice Gillespie said she and other staff have had to
learn what rewards and punishments work, and which people have the best
chance of succeeding in the program.

"When we lost our third person, I got really concerned ... I wondered what
we were doing wrong," she said.

But losing six people isn't bad, said Mitchell Mackinem, director of the
drug court for the 5th Circuit, which has been operating for more than five
years. The 5th Circuit consists of Richland and Kershaw counties.

Mackinem said in the first year of his drug court, more than half of the
participants quit or were terminated for failing to comply.

"It sounds like they're doing pretty good," Mackinem said. "They're doing
better than I did in my first year."

Each week, drug court participants are required to pay a $25 participation
fee and show up for court. But unlike most criminal courts where judges
listen to lawyers who battle over guilt and innocence, drug court is more
like counseling.

Participants and their families fill one courtroom at the Moss Justice
Center. When a person's name is called, he or she stands before Derek
Chiarenza, the drug court judge, and talks about the progress that week.
Counselors tell the judge why they succeed and why they fail, and the judge
shares his thoughts on their progress. The counselors spend about an hour
in court for the entire group.

On a recent evening in court, Chiarenza checked on the progress of a man he
sent to jail. He hoped the man would get clean before starting the program.

"So how were your last three weeks there?" Chiarenza asked.

"It's jail!" the man exclaimed.

"And you don't want to go back there?"

"Uh uh, no."

Chiarenza leaned forward and smiled.

"Well, you look a lot better than you did three weeks ago."

Melissa, a drug court participant since it began, was nearly kicked out of
the program early on because she was dishonest about her employment and
frequently lied to counselors. The judge sent her to jail for a week to
scare her.

"That week in jail did me a lot of good," she said. "It hasn't been easy,
but I know (the counselors are) there for me. I feel good about myself
today because I'm honest. I'm dependable. I go to work every day and pay my
bills."

Melissa, 34, got into the program after she was arrested for trying to use
a forged prescription for pain medication. She had several prior felonies
and faced 15 years in prison.

"I always thought if I could just stop using pills and using drugs,
everything would just be OK. I learned that those were just symptoms of a
bigger problem," she said. "I know if I wasn't in this program, I'd be using."