Pubdate: Fri, 21 Mar 2008
Source: Northern Star (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2008 Northern Star
Contact:  http://www.star.niu.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2815
Author: Sam Brunell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

NEW DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM ALLOWS DRUG OFFENDERS TO GET CLEAN

DeKalb County Drug Court gives convicted addicts an  opportunity to 
receive treatment before incarceration.

The program, Choosing Life and Ending Abuse Now  (CLEAN), was 
established in October 2006 to give  nonviolent substance abuse 
offenders a drug-free way of  life, according the court's Web site.

"They have to want to come in," said drug court  coordinator Marilyn 
Stromborg. "They choose us and we  choose them."

The applicants are selected with tests and screening.  After being 
accepted into the program, they plead their  crime to the drug court 
or are dismissed to jail,  Stromborg said.

The program takes about 14 months, without relapse, to complete.

Some of the requirements include DeKalb County  residency, calls to 
Stromborg by 8:30 a.m. every day to  check in, frequent and random 
drug testing and  employment to work to pay back restitution.

Joe Hanning, the drug court's probation officer, makes  scheduled and 
random visits at least once a week to the  participants' homes to 
make sure they are in compliance  with the program and with treatment 
providers.

There are currently about 17 participants ranging in  age from 18 to 
early 50s, Stromborg said, adding that  the average participant is in 
his or her mid– to late–30s.

Team members of the drug court believe the treatment  works and will 
not only benefit the abuser, but also  community.

"It is a very positive program for participants,"  Hanning said.

Ron Matekaitis, DeKalb County state's attorney and drug  court team 
member, originally thought punishment of the  abusers was the best 
course of action to ensure public  safety. After working with the 
program, Matekaitis now  believes the approach of treatment mixed 
with punishment is better to enhance public safety  long-term.

"Even if you lock up an addict, they are still going to  be an addict 
when they get out," Matekaitis said.

The state of Illinois allows someone to go through the  program only once.

Other states and counties have drug courts similar to DeKalb.

"There are over 2,000 across the nation," Hanning said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom