Pubdate: Sun, 28 Oct 2007
Source: Courier News (Elgin, IL)
Copyright: 2007 The Courier News
Contact:  http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1200
Author: Gloria Carr, Staff Writer

SECOND CHANCE FOR KIDS ON DRUGS

Juvenile Drug Court Gives Teen A Chance To Reclaim Her Life

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP -- At age 11, Lexie tried drugs  for the first
time.

The drugs robbed her of an entire childhood, she said.

She became a "street kid" who, wandering around at all  hours, felt
alienated from her family and committed  crimes to feed her habit.
Lexie -- who gave birth to a  son last spring -- landed in juvenile
court and has  spent years on probation.

On this day, Lexie reclaimed her life.

"It is the most amazing accomplishment," the  17-year-old said,
sitting in a room awaiting her last  appearance in Kane County's
Juvenile Drug Court and an  informal graduation ceremony. "I can keep
my past in  the past. I can start my life, go to college and take
care of my son."

Her mother, Linda, sat next to her with a huge smile on  her face.
Outside the room, Lexie's 8-month-old son  could be heard laughing and
gurgling as his great-aunt  held him and his great-grandfather kept
him occupied.

"I'm happy for her," said Linda. "We went through lots  of stuff. It's
been a long haul. This is a happy day."

Slippery slope

Lexie started using recreational drugs, but it was like  a chain
reaction leading to drug addiction, Lexie said.  A factor in her
addiction was peer pressure, she said.

The first arrest came in 2003 when she was 13 years  old. Lexie was
placed on probation and completed it.  Three months later, she was
back in trouble and on  probation.

Those years still haunt Linda.

"It was horrible. I was sick at home fretting," Linda  said. She
remembers just staring out the window,  worrying about Lexie and not
knowing where she was.  "It's one of the major points we've discussed
in  counseling. She put me in that place and I couldn't do  anything."

Lexie said, "It makes me so sad. I can't imagine me  looking out a
window and not knowing where my son is. I  regret every moment I left
her worrying. That's what  drug and alcohol abuse will do to you. It
is the worst  disease."

Her father, brother and mother have been hurt in  different ways by
her abuse. Her brother, she said, has  been her best friend.

"I've hurt him, too," she said, adding, "I'm lucky to  have a family
who cares about me."

Not giving up

Juvenile Drug Court has helped Lexie mature and its  staff and
counselors helped her control her emotions  and handle her anger
management issues, Linda said. Her  daughter was out of control, to
the point the family  did not know where to turn, she said. She said
she  believes teens like Lexie are in pain and do not know  how to
handle it.

The determination to change did not come easily, Lexie  said. She did
chose to voluntarily enter Juvenile Drug  Court in August 2006 but she
resisted the program at  first because it was so strict. Lexie found
she had to  change her mindset. Before, she focused on friends and
drugs, she said. What she found in juvenile court was  structure,
discipline and caring case workers, she  said.

She has learned how to find ways to handle setbacks,  how to express
herself and deal with her pain.

Lexie also sees the need to continue her recovery and  plans to
continue her counseling sessions with Break  Free in Aurora.

"Before, I used to just give up," she said. "If I  thought I couldn't
complete it, I gave up. I would have  one thing go wrong and instead
of fixing it, I added  more problems and it snowballed. (Now) if I was
to ever  have a problem, I deal with that one problem.

"I think it's great they do kids in drug court because  that's where
it starts. It's about peer pressure,"  Lexie said.

'A celebration'

Inside the courtroom a few minutes later, Lexie stands  in front with
16th Circuit Judge Wiley W. Edmondson and  Katie Studt, Juvenile Drug
Court coordinator, for an  informal presentation before Edmondson
convened court  and dismissed her.

The judge called in the half-dozen or so teens waiting  in the lobby
for their court appearances.

"This is a wonderful day, and I am so happy to have you  here,"
Edmondson said. "This is not court. This is a  celebration.

"I want you to see there is light at the end of the  tunnel," the
judge tells the teens enrolled in the drug  court. "Juvenile Drug
Court is about nothing less than  changing the rest of your life."

Studt gave Lexie a gift certificate and said a few  words about the
young woman.

"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing to do,"  Studt said.
"Lexie has shown true strength to anyone  who knows her. We have seen
her go through hard times  that other people may not have been able to
do."

Edmondson, too, presented Lexie with a card and a  journal to
encourage her writing, a talent she  rediscovered through the program.
He said he has been  proud to be the judge on her case because she is
a  great person.

"We are all very proud of you," Edmondson said. "We  know in the
future it won't be all rosy, but there will  be successful times."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek