Drug court offers 'new realm of opportunities'

HOLLADAY — William Nicholson had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was living on disability payments when he was taken into police custody more than three years ago.

He didn't have a job, a car or any kind of relationship with his parents.

On Thursday night, Nicholson graduated from Taylorsville's drug-court program with a renewed hope for life. He's aiming for a driver's license, has a job as a tire retreader and has made contact with his folks.

Nicholson is also building his credit score, making plans for college and an eventual career in Web site development. Most importantly, he no longer receives permanent disability payments, and he doesn't need psychological treatment.

"This is due to the fact that I no longer use drugs as a means to deal with life," Nicholson said, celebrating his drug-court graduation. "In doing that, I have opened up a whole new realm of opportunities for myself. We all have the power to choose a path of dignity and peace for ourselves."

The Taylorsville Drug Court celebrated its 10-year anniversary alongside the Holladay/Cottonwood Heights drug court Thursday. As the second municipal drug court in the nation, the success of Taylorsville's program is praised widely by people at all levels of government.

"What the drug court is designed to do is cut or stop that cycle of abuse," said Holladay Judge Daniel Gibbons. "It's been a privilege as a judge to be an eyewitness to many of you rising up and doing a very difficult thing in your life."

Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham told graduates that nothing she has done in her life compared, in terms of sheer difficulty, with the accomplishment of graduating from drug court.

Drug courts reorient the traditional role of courts from one of pure adjudication to one that gives people another chance through strict monitoring, peer review and clinical counseling.

In Holladay and Taylorsville, the municipal drug courts use a four-step system that begins with daily court appearances and random urinalysis testing that takes place at least once a week. From there, court participants progress to less frequent testing. They face more advanced peers who judge their progress and provide support for efforts made in halting substance abuse.

"They're invaluable because they're living that life," Taylorsville Judge Michael Kwan said of the peer reviewers. "They can spot the people that are trying to blow smoke up my robes."