BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Family and friends witnessed their loved ones graduating from the 19th Judicial District Recovery Court Program on Wednesday, March 22.
The recovery program is 18-months long and gives those struggling with drug addiction an opportunity to recover and get treatment instead of prison time.
“We are hit so hard with drug abuse and overdoses. We can’t treat them as just criminals or people that are less than. We must actively go and seek out the way that we can actually help individuals and make sure that they’re productive citizens in society when they return and when they come out,” said Deputy Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial District Court, William Jorden.
Jorden emphasized the importance of the program, and the need to find ways to help those with addiction instead of punishing them.
One of the four graduates, Tiffany LaCoste, had her family in attendance and has been in the program since 2019. LaCoste shared how she suffered from drug addiction.
“At that time I was unable to see myself without substances to make me feel better. The mental obsession, the drugs and alcohol had a grip on me so tight I was completely delusional. My addiction took everything from me,” she said.
Another graduate, Renate Booker, also talked about what the program has done for her and how thankful she is for the opportunity to recover.
“I prayed to God to take my pain pill addiction away. I was arrested and stayed in jail for 10 months until I was accepted to the recovery treatment program,” she said. “I’ve become a better person, I’ve become a better version of myself.”
For LaCoste, she says the program wasn’t easy and is happy to get a second opportunity.
“It’s not easy, they do put you underneath a lot of stress but it’s all showing you that really you can do it. It’s doable, they start you off with all kinds of classes and things that are required for you to do. I gotta say I can’t complain,” she said.
In regards to advice for others suffering with drug abuse who have the option to do the program, she suggests they not give up.
“When you first starting you feel like these people are here to get you and they’re really not, they’re just out to help you improve,” she said. “It’s worth it at the end. A lot of character change, a lot of personality, everything.”
For more information about the 19th Judicial District Recovery Court Program, click here.
Leave a Reply