Drug court puts families back together

It was a little bit of meth, friends told her, just something to liven up the party.

Fifteen-year-old Andraya figured it couldn't be that bad.

Little did she know heroin and cocaine lay ahead, smooth and seductive, and, in no time at all, looming so large in her life that her own mother got the state to give her Andraya's tiny daughter to keep the child safe.

All that unhappiness was ancient history on Wednesday, when Andraya graduated from Family Dependency Drug Court, a special program designed to reunite parents who are recovering addicts with their children. In all, 11 people graduated from either that court or Juvenile Drug Court in an applause-filled ceremony held in the stately room at the Matheson Courthouse that is normally used by the Utah Supreme Court.

Family Dependency Drug Court is a program for people with substance-abuse problems whose children have been taken from them. They may have criminal charges pending in state district court, or they may simply have lost their children to the court-ordered care of others because someone alerted authorities about the substance abuse and risk to the children. The juvenile court is for youngsters under age 18 with substance-abuse problems.

Both programs offer a variety of treatment and counseling efforts — all designed to help the addict recover and also to piece back together family ties shredded by drugs.

Third District Juvenile Judge Christine Decker, who officiated at the "Celebrating Recovery" event, frequently called on the crowd that overflowed the room to applaud the parents, siblings, spouses and others who had stood by their recovering loved ones as they went through treatment programs, worked hard, sometimes messed up and, eventually, succeeded.

"People with addictions burn bridges — they can wear people out," Decker said, as she thanked the relatives who had stuck around and offered support.

Andraya, now 21, has gotten sober, regained custody of her daughter, Brooklyn, now 3, and enjoys a happy and loving relationship with her mother.

"I was furious with her at the time," Andraya said about her mother's bid to temporarily take Brooklyn. "Now, I'm really thankful."

Besides getting help for substance-abuse problems, Andraya said the Family Dependency Drug Court offers a host of classes to help recovering addicts with life difficulties, including such things as anger management, self-esteem issues, emotional resiliency and parenting.

Andraya now plans to take computer classes, get formal schooling and move forward with her life.

"I've gotten a lot of support from my mom, my therapist, my case manager and Judge Hornak (3rd District Juvenile Judge Kimberly Hornak)," she said. "They helped me through this. They wanted me to succeed."

E-MAIL: lindat@desnews.com