Drug court changes behavior to reunite families – Neuse News



[ad_1]

Families who participate in family drug courts are twice as likely to reunite as families who receive conventional services. Shiquira Joyner, a mother of four, has successfully completed the Drug Court program.

“If it hadn’t been for Drug Court, I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today,” Joyner said.

Drug Court participants are given random drug testing at least twice a week and weekly substance use counseling.

“If you accept what you’ve done and move on, it’s a really good program,” Joyner said. “I learned to deal with emotions, a lot of things that some of us didn’t learn as kids, I learned. I have learned to express what I feel without being aggressive.

From August 2020 to August 2021, there were 129 petitions for abuse, neglect and addiction with 43 referrals for the FARC. 83% of those referred entered the FARC program and 20% completed the program.

“I am here today for my children and my love for them,” Joyner said. “If a person really loves their kids, they’ll finish drug court.”

North Carolina Drug Treatment Courts include the Family Drug Treatment Court and the Adult Drug Treatment Court. The Family Drug Treatment Court works with people who are at risk of losing custody of their children due to charges of abuse or neglect. The Adult Drug Treatment Court ensures that drug and / or alcoholic offenders receive treatment to become healthy, law-abiding members of the community.

“The drug court is based on the idea of ​​changing behavior, not on punishment,” Justice Beth Heath said.

Family Accountability and Recovery Court (FARC) is a comprehensive family-centered approach that addresses parental substance use disorders, parental needs and child abuse.

“We are trying to change behaviors so that people can be positive, productive citizens, good parents and can be with their families,” said Heath.



[ad_2]

Source link