Recovery Court Continues To See Success

The 13th Judicial District Recovery Court continues to show signs of success.

According to Judge Gary McKenzie, the program is one of the most successful drug courts statewide with a 96-percent success rate.

“Individuals that go through our program spend more time in our program than they will if they serve a four or five year prison sentence. There is actually more responsibility through our program in the hoops and the things that they have to do,” McKenzie said. “96-percent of those who have graduated have not re-offended. That means you aren’t spending any tax dollars for those individuals to be housed in jail and we don’t cost you, the county, a dime.”

McKenzie said the program is one of the many tools being used address the opioid and methamphetamine epidemic across the region.

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway said authorities have re-arrested only one program graduate since 2011.

“That is the best in the state of Tennessee by far,” Dunaway said. “It involves accountability and long-term treatment,” Dunaway said. “Without those two facets, there is no success. It take a little while to get addicted to methamphetamine and other drugs, but it takes a long time to get out of that active addiction.”

McKenzie and other recovery court representatives gave an update about the program to the Putnam County Commission on Monday.

Earlier this week the recovery court held another graduation and phase advancement ceremony for program participants.