After seven or eight months into this program, I was given the opportunity to receive a loan to help me with a down payment. I did not have the entire amount to pay bills or rent, but I did receive $355 for dental care as I was in need of a full set of dentures. I made an agreement to pay back the loan at $100 a month, which I did and it has been paid off. If it not for the help of the Drug Court loans, I would not have what I have today. I have worked very hard on my recovery to becoming a responsible person and I have to say I am proud to give back what was given to me. Drug Court loans are really needed to help us get back on our feet to live our lives and move forward. They help us with security deposits, clothes for interviews, and cars for transportation. We had nothing when we started. There is a real need for these loans to help the participants in Drug Court. Please, whatever is needed to help Drug Court to continue helping with loans will truly be appreciated.

Receiving a Drug Court loan has been critical to my recovery. It helped me obtain a stable and safe housing situation, which in turn got me out of a revolving door cycle on the street. And since then Drug Court has helped me progress further in life, by taking stress away and replacing it with better things, like a good job, time to take classes, and concentrating on the important things in life. Without this help, one can only speculate where I might be. It has been very important foundation in beginning my recovery and a path to a better sober life.

Today I am a different person. I’m continually doing things to better myself. I have a new outlook on life and I enjoy living life clean which I never thought was possible. A lot of people reach out to me and that definitely helped me stay clean. So no matter what happens today I do not have to use drugs, no matter what. I’m happy being clean and sober for the first time in my life. So I believe if I can do it, anyone can. It is what it is!

Entering into Drug Court was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make, yet it has been proven to be one of the best. Through working with the Drug Court team, I can say with honesty that I’ve made the best out of a bad situation. The changes I have made and the personal growth that I’ve experienced will continue to affect me for the rest of my life. The program has allowed me to be productive, live my life, and make positive changes. If I had chosen the alternative, I’m not sure that I would have experienced any rehabilitation. As a result, I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time. Drug Court has my gratitude.