By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
A group of family, friends, and community leaders filled the Mesquite Municipal Court room on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 24 to show support to the most recent graduate of the “Breaking the Cycle” program.
The one being honored who wished only to be known as Anthony is 26-years-old and brought along his six-year-old son to the ceremony.
Anthony had a smile on his face as he listened to remarks by Judge Ryan Toone, who oversees the “Breaking the Cycle” program in Mesquite. Also giving encouraging words at the ceremony was Valerie Lystrup, a member of Breaking the Cycle Drug Core Team.
Anthony himself was quite shy when asked to say a few words. He turned to the audience and simply said: “Thank You, guys!” Then he quickly sat down.
“The Breaking the Cycle Program is quite challenging and rigorous,” said Judge Toone. “For those who stick with it, it is life changing.”
Lystrup, who facilitates a weekly substance use disorder counseling group, expressed how much she would miss seeing Anthony at her weekly meetings. At one point, Lystrup spoke directly to Anthony’s son saying, “Your dad is a hero for conquering his addictions and completing this program.”
Toone reiterated Anthony’s accomplishments during the program. These included 518 days of sobriety, creating a new circle of “sober” friends and activities, obtaining and maintaining independent housing, resolving open and other court cases, stoppingsmoking more than 10-month ago, and building positive habits including heathy eating habits.
Anthony also obtained a CPR certification and an overdose assistant certificate. Judge Toone said it was Anthony that approached the Mesquite Fire Chief with the suggestion to offer a CPR class for the people in the program.
Anthony has been working at Do It Best in Mesquite. His supervisor, Cole Atwood spoke highly of him.
“Anthony is an amazing young man,” Atwood said. “He always works hard and never takes anything for granted. We are all excited for him. Everyone (at work) wanted to come today. But I could not let everyone off work.”
Anthony has lived in Mesquite for about two and half years and plans to stay in the community. “I love it here and I have a good job,” he said.
Anthony was presented with a number of gifts for completing the program. A number of the ladies who work/volunteer in the Breaking the Cycle program presented him with a quilt which they had made in remembrance of all his effort in this program.
Toone presented a bag full of various gifts from local businesses. Anthony was especially excited about a Smith’s gift card and a round of golf for two at Falcon Ridge Golf Course. Golfing has become one of his new sober activities.
Local Rotary Club President, Linda Gault also gave Anthony a Visa gift card to show support from Rotary.
“These graduations are one of the most rewarding things we have going in this court room,” Toone concluded.
The “Breaking the Cycle” program has been in operation in Mesquite since 2015. It is one of 55 similar programs throughout the state of Nevada.
The program has about 12 participants working through the process at any given time.
Toone said that the success rate in the program is about 50 percent. “Some are still challenged at the end of the program,” he said. “Some do not complete the program. “
“We have great support from the community and from the state,” Toone added. “That is what keeps us going.”
