Treatment court graduate says program helped change her life
The following letter was shared from a graduate of the drug treatment court program: Before treatment court: I hit rock bottom 2,441 days ago. Long story short, I hated myself and I thought about taking my life several times. I was so unhappy and so ashamed about who I had become. Alcohol took over my life and I know I’m not alone. After my arrest, many told me that they drink and drive often, but luckily never got caught. I got caught…3 times and luckily no one else was hurt by my selfish actions, at least not physically. I know that I hurt my family and I will always feel that guilt, but I pulled myself out of the hole I was in with the help of so many different people.
Treatment Court saved my life and gave me a 2nd chance at living a life worth living. The program was very strict and kept me very busy juggling parole dates, court dates, counseling appointments, etc. If I was going to be honest, the one thing that really helped me was having the interlock and the device that I would have to blow in 3 times a day. If it wasn’t for that, I am not sure how successful I would have been. I needed accountability, and those checks in place didn’t allow me any other choice. The several appointments split between meeting with a parole officer, social worker, group class, counselor, and meeting with the judge/panel each week were a blessing in disguise. It wasn’t easy, but it was my reality, and I didn’t want to fail. Heck, I was rewarded with a purse and a blow-dryer for my good behavior, so incentives help! I was able to get the help I needed through counseling and medication management to help regulate my depression/ anxiety.
Life after treatment court: I am now on day 2,442 of being sober. I am now living in Madison working for an Architectural Firm as an Administrative Assistant. I have mended relationships with my family, I live in a nice apartment and drive a nice car. Financially I’m still a bit strapped due to living in a bigger city, but I still can pay my bills and make sure my son has a safe environment to grow up in. I live in an area where no one knows my past and I feel safe. I’m not hiding my past, but it’s nice to live in a place where no one really knows me. I have opened to explain why I don’t drink. It is still WI and drinking is still a common past-time, but I have been strong enough to not partake. When I first moved here, I was so stressed and all I wanted to do was drink. With the counseling groups, I have learned a way to walk myself through what would happen if I had a drink. It always ended up with putting myself in a situation where I could end up in jail. That tool has helped me so many times. I can now be around others that drink without feeling completely uncomfortable. I may not be as social as I used to be, but I’m content. My son is going to be graduating High School next month and I have always been truthful with him about addiction and the fact that he has two alcoholic parents, so he needs to really be careful of the choices he makes. He is confident in who he is and has surrounded himself with good friends that seem to make responsible decisions. I think he has friends that might drink, but his focus is lifting weights and being healthy, so hopefully that mindset will continue into the next phase of his life.
I may not want my name on this letter, but I am proud of the work I put into it and thankful that this program is in place. It saved my life in so many ways.
