SAN ANTONIO -- A special graduating class celebrated their success today at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center. Participants of Bexar County's Family Drug Treatment Court reunited with family after months of treatment.
The program nonviolent offenders treatment for their drug addictions, rather than have them serve prison time. Since it's first graduation in 2004, the court has helped over 180 people get clean and sober. It's also helped get them on the right track for their children.
A participant of the program who referred to himself as "Mike A.," said the program saved him. He said he was a user for many years and would take his autistic child out as a prop to panhandle for drug money.
"What I did was work an honest program to the best of my ability," Mike said. "By doing that, I'm standing in front of you 10 months clean."
Program directors say that for every dollar spent on substance abuse treatment services,, $7 to $11 are saved on social costs such as health care, violence and crime, lost time at work and school, and social services.
The program is run with the help of Judge Peter Sakai in the 225th District Court. For more information on Judge Sakai and the program,
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