Howell County Adult Drug Court announces 29th graduation ceremony

The Howell County Adult Drug Court is pleased to announce its 29th graduation ceremony for participants in the Adult Drug Court. The ceremony was held at the courthouse in West Plains on Oct. 18.

The graduate was recognized for her successful completion of the program’s stringent requirements, which include sustained abstinence from the use of controlled substances and alcohol; satisfactory participation in a substance-abuse treatment program; and frequent performance reviews conducted by Adult Drug Court Judge David Ray. For Adult Drug Court graduates, the ceremony marks the completion of an intensive program of comprehensive behavioral health treatment, intensive community supervision, and full accountability.

The Howell County Adult Drug Court was implemented in 2012 to divert non-violent, substance-abusing felony offenders into a comprehensive, judicially supervised program of substance-abuse treatment, urinalysis monitoring, and case management. Once an offender is referred to the Adult Drug Court program, they must be assessed to see if they meet criteria for admission, and the Adult Drug Court judge must approve the application. The offender is required to (1) acknowledge having a substance-abuse related problem; (2) agree to fully participate in and complete substance-abuse treatment; and (3) agree to satisfy all requirements of the Adult Drug Court program. 

There are currently eleven participants in the Howell County Adult Drug Court program. The Adult Drug Court has proven to be an innovative, cost-effective program to assist substance-abusing individuals in making life-changing differences for themselves, their families, and the community. We are proud to be able to have honored the Howell County Adult Drug Court graduate by celebrating her achievement with her family and peers.

For further information or to find out how you may help support the Howell County Adult Drug Court program, please contact Treatment Court Coordinator Lois Ann Price at 417-256-2432 or lois.price@courts.mo.gov.