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Tri-Cities, Wash — In honor of National Drug Court Month, State leaders are speaking out about local drug diversion programs.
Darryl Coleman and Joe Barsana are both graduates of the diversion program, it’s a program that offers alternatives instead of incarceration.
This includes rehabilitation program for certain offenders that might be related to substance abuse.
In Therapeutic court, judges, attorneys , and mental health counselors will work as a team to support the participant through the recovery progress instead of punishment.
This program is a year long but some people might take years before becoming fully recovered.
” I lived at the mission with no hope and not thinking I had anything left at fifty one years , you know and so I didn’t. I tried to take my life while I was there, and then I got into this just right after I started therapeutic courts, and they wrapped their arms around me. I was concerned I was gonna get kicked out and they took me in ” said Darryl Coleman , Board of Directors in Washington State Therapeutic Alumni.
Jerry Cliff graduated today from one of the recovery programs after attending for a little over a year.
She was celebrated with balloons, and a cake along with her support system by her side.
Cliff had three DUI prior and she said the program has allowed her to move forwards in life.
Once she realized she had a problem.
“I was weak , wanting to help but I didn’t know how to do it or what it what the feelings were exactly , and going through treatment . And this program really taught me what I was feeling was normal, I was having . that I feel like stronger ” said Jerry Cliff | Graduate in one of the recovery programs.
Coleman and Barsana are now leaders in the program and will be sharing their personal stories tomorrow at the Washington Deflection and Diversion Summit at the Three River Convention center.
Admission is free but register before. Here is the link if you would like to register.