WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |A drug court success story
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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW)- Once a month, La Crosse County Human Services holds a lunchtime meeting focusing on different programs within the department.
On Wednesday, the Drug Treatment Court and the OWI Treatment Court were highlighted.
The Drug Treatment Court works with addicts who are consistently in trouble with the law.
The OWI Treatment Court works with people who have been convicted multiple times of driving drunk.
They are an alternative to jail, although if participants do not follow through with the program they can be put behind bars.
Graduates of the program were on hand to talk about how the program helped them change their lives around.
Mario Street's life was going no where fast and everywhere it shouldn't have been.
Drug Treatment Court graduate Mario Street says, "My life was completely chaos. I mean anything you can think of- sleeping on the streets, gangs, violence, being stuck in crack houses all night."
The Chicago man was dealing drugs and using them.
His actions caught up with him in La Crosse.
Street says, "When I came to La Crosse it was like I was put under a magnifying glass which was amazing because it made me see like all the stuff I was doing wasn't right."
Street would end up in jail, before entering the Drug Treatment Court.
Both the Drug and OWI treatment includes sobriety checks, participation in substance abuse program, and regular contacts with a judge.
Drug Treatment Court Judge Dale Passell says, "We go over what their treatment plan is, whether or not they have passed their test- that is whether they are testing clean, whether they have other issues that they need to deal with."
Being open and honest with the Court helped Mario clean up his act, now he's taken that philosophy of openness and put it into lyrics.
Street says, "I share what I've been through with people, with the world you know so that if one person hears it then can not do what I did, then that's good enough for me"
Through music and faith, Street turned around his life.
Street says, "I'm a real spiritual person, and had to reach out for God."
Street hasn't used drugs or sold narcotics in over two years.
And although Judge Passell says the programs aren't perfect, Street is proof that they can be effective.
It takes one year minimum to graduate from drug court, but for many people it takes more time to graduate.
If you want to attend OWI Treatment Court you can, but with Drug Treatment Court, you are evaluated and based on your evaluation it is determined if you would be a good participant.
There are around 30 people in Drug Court.
For doing well in the programs, participants receive incentives such as applause, prizes, or leaving early from the session.
Sanctions can be community service, having to go to more meetings, or jail time.
