Constance: “We all have one goal … beat it”
CARMEL – Six residents of Putnam County drew cheers and applause for accomplishing what some believed was the impossible — completion of the rigorous two-year- long Putnam Drug Treatment Court Program.
Before family and friends who packed the historic Putnam Courthouse on Thursday afternoon, the graduates — Jayne L., Helen R., Kevin R., Constance S., Vincent S. and Brian T.— each thanked Putnam County Judge James Reitz and members of the drug court team for turning their lives around.
Jayne expressed gratitude. “Drug court saved my life. Becoming honest with myself was scary but I am so thankful for getting one final opportunity to make something of myself.”
Vincent told the commencement, “Drug Court turned my life around. I was given a second chance and I grabbed it. Thanks to the dedicated team of drug court staff we all conquered the evil spirits together.”
For Brian, his addiction was a “long, long road. Attitudes and behaviors changed my life since without the drug court team I would have easily become a statistic.”
Tears streamed down the cheeks of those in attendance when Constance’s story was told. “Addiction brought me to the lowest place I’ve ever been,” said the young woman. “Drug court has been the hardest two years of my life. We all have one goal in Treatment Court — beat it!”
At the age of 21, Constance had faced 18 years in state prison following her conviction on a number of felony charges.
District Attorney Robert Tendy told the young woman and the other graduates, “Always rely on those who can help you.”
Helen’s remarks to the court were simple: “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Drug court graduate Maren Geider of Cold Spring, now 30, delivered the keynote address. The young professional called it an honor to stand in the courtroom “without being handcuffed or without facing another sanction.”
The recovering addict began her downfall at the age of 17 while attending school. “We put dark liquor in clear bottles and drank before driver’s education classes because we all believed we were invincible. I soon experimented with almost every drug, especially opioids, because I could get them from my doctor for a back injury.”
Following high school Maren went off to college where she found friends “enabling and encouraging me to drink and drug. Those friends faded and by the second year in school I found myself addicted to opiates.”
Geider said she became “hopeless and insecure. I committed crimes to support my drug habit by writing my own prescriptions. I began using heroin. My attitude changed and I was always falling asleep that prevented me from keeping a job past six months.”
Maren’s health began a downward spiral. She weighed only 85 pounds as her family became aware that something was not right.
At her college graduation in 2010, Geider admitted “putting a needle in my arm that kept me from thinking about the reality of the situation.”
Maren was soon arrested on eight felony charges and while in treatment was placed on probation. Her choices: Drug Court or state prison.
Geider recalled entering the drug court program “kicking and screaming. I was stubborn and did not like the fact that these strangers could change my life.”
Eighteen months into the program, Maren decided to “pick a person of my past who was still active in his addiction. I was arrested for making that choice which turned out to be an eye opener. I surrendered by finally allowing someone else to take control of my life by realizing that my family, probation and the drug court team were trying to help me.”
Maren received applause when telling the audience, “I have been clean of drugs since April 2014. I challenged my defiance into recovery and fight every second of the day to stay clean. Life of sobriety is what we all deserve and you graduates prove that. Live simply so others can simply live.”
County Executive MaryEllen Odell attended the commencement calling it “incredible. I have had the opportunity to travel our great state observing the judicial system in action along with police enforcement. No other court in all of New York State is as rewarding and successful as Putnam’s Drug Court led by Judge Reitz. The judge gives individuals a second opportunity in life while holding their feet to the fire.”
Judge Reitz described drug court as his most pleasurable assignment. “As difficult as it may be working with people with serious addictions who are one step away from state prison, when given a second chance and seeing the light, the graduates change their ways. With the assistance of loving and caring families they again become productive members of society.”
The judge said a recovered drug addict’s motto is “One day at a time. Continue your recovery and attend help groups through a network created by individuals who really care. You are good and decent people.”
During its 17 years of operation, more than 250 residents have successfully completed the drug court curriculum under the watchful eye of Judge Reitz and his predecessor Judge Robert Miller.
