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Going slow on drug court seems likely road to success

If slow and steady wins the race, the folks at the Washington County Common Pleas Drug Court are working toward victory for the participants who have chosen the program.

It appears as though great care has gone into avoiding a push to simply fill the program quickly, which might have made for better public opinion, but could also have resulted in disaster for the program and its participants.

“You don’t want to push 30 people into the program at the beginning,” said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin. “I want to help the people who need this, not just be an alternative for drug traffickers and violent offenders to stay out of prison. This is for people who don’t know how to function sober.”

In fact, according to Aleisha Roberson, the program’s coordinator, six who were referred to the program were deemed not suitable. The high-risk, high-need criteria are not easy to meet. But for the seven who have filled spots in the program, and another four who will be offered spots this week, getting in means a chance — a chance to do something difficult, even terrifying, but not alone.

“It’s a lot easier to go down this road when you’ve got people with you so you can see it can be done,” said Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi.

Kudos to those who are reaching milestones in the program, and the officials who are helping them get there. It is one small step in the right direction as we continue the fight against this scourge.

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