Eight residents completed rigorous program, celebrate transformations
By Rose Horowitch
| Published:
Marcel Johnson, graduate of Montgomery County's Drug Court, shares his gratitude for the people who helped support him on his way to sobriety.
Screenshot from livestream
As Marcel Johnson thanked his wife and kids and celebrated 26 months of sobriety, he struggled to find the words to demonstrate his gratitude.
“I’m so shook up,” he said. “This is so emotional for me because it’s been years since I’ve completed anything.”
Last week, as the county’s Circuit Court Adult Drug Court honored eight program graduates, there were plenty of tears of relief and joy.
The alternative sentencing program helps nonviolent offenders who are struggling with drug or alcohol dependency overcome their addiction and break the cycle of crime.
The most recent graduates included Kim Holmes, Jonathan Luther, Rodrigo Miranda, Chelsea Milburn, and Johnson. Three others who graduated in the class asked not to be included in a news story.
Wednesday’s graduation ceremony, held on Zoom, featured the graduates’ family, friends and people who helped them along the way. Another 86 people currently in the program watched the graduation, too.
The Drug Court’s founder, former Circuit Court Judge Nelson Rupp, also joined the call. Rupp launched the program in 2004. Since then, 237 people have graduated.
The path to graduation is challenging. Participants must:
• stay sober for at least 180 days
• do community service
• complete all program and probation requirements, including restitution and costs
• attend a Graduation Review Board and exit interview.
Additionally, the Drug Court team must recommend that someone graduate and the drug court judges must approve it.
The minimum time in the program is 20 months. But the actual time can vary. Holmes, one of this year’s graduates, had been in the program for six years.
“I’m not exactly proud of that,” she said. “But I’m not ashamed of it because that’s what it took.”
Holmes entered Drug Court in September 2014. After six months in the program, the treatment team recommended that she instead be sent to the Department of Corrections. She ultimately participated in five long-term treatment programs.
Each time she would come close to completing the program, she would “go haywire,” Maloney said.
“To say she was hopeless, to say she was helpless, is an understatement,” he added.
But once her daughter was born in July 2018, Holmes turned her life around. In her speech, Holmes also spoke about the challenge of completing Drug Court, and the importance of overcoming adversity.
“If you’re not struggling in Drug Court, you’re not working on anything,” she said. “I could handle anything now.”
She has now been sober for 14 months and has been granted full custody of her daughter. Throughout the Zoom call, Holmes played with her 2-year-old.
The program consists of four phases. During each phase, participants attend recovery meeting and, substance abuse treatment groups, meet with their case manager, and go to court. Participants must live in court-approved housing and meet with therapists and probation officers.
“We have contracts to fill with Drug Court,” Johnson said. “But recovery is our own.”
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge John M. Maloney presided over the graduation ceremony.
At the start, Washington Nationals manager Davey Martinez spoke about the common theme of overcoming adversity — for him, it was nearly being before leading the team to win the World Series last year.
He spoke about the importance of habit. To him, habit means pressing on, having hard attitudes, belief, integrity and trust.
“I will tell you guys that are graduating that you guys are true champions,” Martinez said. “In your own heart, you guys have won your World Series.”
After Martinez’s address, each graduate spoke.
Johnson had been sober since starting the program 26 months ago. Maloney said Johnson’s path was governed by two predominant themes — change and leadership.
During his speech, Johnson reflected on the program’s emphasis on an “attitude of gratitude.” He thanked the judges, his therapist, and his family and friends for being there.
Throughout the program, the participants occasionally choked up as they spoke. Family members and friends teared up watching the graduates speak about their paths to sobriety.
“I was bawling just a minute ago,” Johnson said. “I’m so proud of myself.”
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Dwyer said, “It’s OK. There’s crying in Drug Court.”
According to Maloney, Luther was a leader in the program.
Luther initially refused to even pick a sponsor and start the program, but he has since rebuilt his relationships with his family, and has been sober for more than two years, Maloney said.
“The true measure of a Drug Court graduate is their continued success,” Luther said. “Once completed, I plan to stay as connected as possible, continuing to help others and, in turn, helping myself.”
When Miranda entered the program, Maloney doubted he could complete it, the judge said. Miranda came to the program after a burglary charge. After multiple crimes in many jurisdictions, he was set to serve a 62-year sentence.
But Miranda’s therapist said he’s done “a complete 180” with his life. He is now trying to help others do the same. Miranda has hosted sober events, so colleagues can have fun without addictive substances.
“Everybody still in the program, you all can do it,” Miranda said. “All I did was set a goal. My goal was to complete the program successfully. I’m here now.”
Milburn addressed the importance of having a sponsor in the program. She recognized how far she has come, and how much more she loves her life since she has stopped drinking.
Milburn specifically said she loves the all-women’s Drug Court that the county created in 2014 to address issues women face. Additionally, she recognized other female participants who have supported her.
As each graduate was introduced, the screen displayed a photo of him or her upon entering the program to show the “visual representation of recovery,” Dwyer said. Each of the participants looked transformed.
The Link LonkNovember 23, 2020 at 11:20PM
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/courts/for-drug-court-participants-graduation-brings-hope-for-fresh-start-beyond-addiction/
For Drug Court participants, graduation brings hope for fresh start, beyond addiction - BethesdaMagazine.com
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