Mesquite Celebrates Drug Court Graduate

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

The Mesquite Drug Court announced the advancement of another graduate from its “Breaking the Cycle” program during a special ceremony held on Tuesday, June 14 in the Mesquite Justice Court.

In attendance were court personnel, city officials and community leaders to show Support for the program. In addition there was a large group friends and family who showed up to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduate who was referred to as Luis.

Luis had accomplished 604 days of sobriety in the program. He had also maintained full time employment and independent housing during that time. In addition, he had created a new network of friends and positive activities, including other members of the “Break the Cycle” program who are also on the road to recovery.

Judge Ryan Toone, who presides over the program, recognized an important change in Martinez through his participation.
“In the beginning, of course Luis wanted to complete the program, but I wasn’t sure that he was committed to long term recovery,” Toone said. “But somewhere along the way, there was a change.”

Toone challenged Luis to continue to find healthy ways to serve others and be involved in the recovery community. He encouraged Luis to use the various coping tools that he had learned in the program.
“We want you to know that we care about you and we are there for you,” Toone told Luis. “If you run into challenges, reach out before it becomes too much of a struggle. There are people that will help you along the way.”

Luis was presented with a certificate of completion of the program. He also received an armful of gifts which had been donated by local area businesses and sponsors of the program.
“I am grateful for (this program) teaching me that there is a better way of living life such as setting goals, being accountable and preparing myself to be more successful,” Luis said in some brief remarks. “All of these improvements are due to staying connected to a higher power. And the improvements are big enough that it makes me want to continue with these steps.”

City Prosecutor Cliff Gravett made a motion to dismiss all the charges against Luis. Toone proudly granted the motion.

The “Breaking the Cycle” program has been in place in Mesquite since 2015. It is one of 65 specialty court programs in the state. The program combines alcohol and drug addiction treatment services with the justice system to offer qualified candidates a second chance to put their lives back together, as an alternative to serving jail time.

Toone said that, too often, people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions come out of jail with the same substance abuse challenges that they had when they went in.
“It is sometimes called the revolving door of the justice system,” Toone said. “So we can continue doing what we are doing, or we can do something different. The drug court is something different.”