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.
When asked about the possible legalization of recreational marijuana, they all had one response – don’t do it. They said their road to addiction began with pot.
Before family and friends, who packed the historic Putnam Courthouse last Thursday afternoon, the graduates — Christopher C., Jessica K., Andrew L., Tiffany M., Henry S. and Ashley S. — each thanked members of the drug court team and the late Judge Jim Reitz for turning their lives around.
The popular judge died in June following a massive coronary while seated on the bench; Judge Susan Capeci has assumed the role of drug court administrator.
Capeci opened the ceremony by recalling Judge Reitz. “His absence left a huge hole in this court but I am grateful to have taken over one of the most successful programs in the criminal justice system.”
She thanked the judge’s wife, Barbara, for attending the ceremony before asking for a moment of silence as the audience rose to its feet and remembered Judge Reitz.
Each of the graduates then had the opportunity to address the court.
Christopher said “Judge Reitz was the reason I am here today. He was a phenomenal man. Drug Court saved my life.”
For Jessica, “it took a long, long time for me to discover that everything falls into place,” while Ashley noted “without Drug Court, I’d probably be dead by now.”
Henry reminded his fellow graduates, “Judge Reitz is still with us each and every day.” He praised the program for “putting me on the road to recovery. My old path is gone. I stay on the new path one day at a time.”
Tiffany admitted when she first became a member of drug court, “I lived only for heroin. Due to the team things are much different today.”
Andrew described his two-year-long experience as a “wild, crazy ride. I am a different person today. No more anger! I owe my life to the Drug Court team.
Barbara Reitz presented each graduate with a special commemorative coin that her late husband given to drug court graduates over the years.
Judge Capeci said she was “happy to carry on Judge Reitz’ legacy. Always remember, the best times come when students want for themselves what we want for them.”
The six graduates live in communities throughout the county and when queried about legislation legalizing marijuana, each was opposed, calling such action a mistake since the graduates all indicated their days of using drugs began with marijuana experimentation.
The Putnam Drug Court team consists of John Brogan, Brian Carlin, Captain Kevin Cheverko, Joseph DeMarzo, Charleen Effinger, Sue Fitzgerald, Sheila Hanley, Louise Opfer, who serves as Treatment Court Coordinator, Arlene Seymour, Naura Slivinsky, Breanne Smith, Robert Tendy and Cari Young.
During its 18 years of operation, more than 265 residents have successfully completed the drug court curriculum under the watchful eye of Judge Reitz and his predecessor Judge Robert Miller.
