Drug Court programs were born out of the realization that simply incarcerating those struggling with addiction was a losing battle. That old approach filled jails but did little to address the root of the problem.

Drug Court programs seek to break the cycle of addiction and incarceration — and they save taxpayer dollars, too. It’s cheaper to treat some offenders rather than house them in jail. “Drug offenders are required to stick with a treatment program and are closely supervised in the community. The result is a substantial reduction in drug use and recidivism,” Mississippi’s Judiciary website states.

Approximately 45 individuals from the Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties received recognition for either moving forward in the Drug Court program or completing the program. The ceremony took place Monday afternoon in Horace Holmes Student Union Hall on the campus of Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit.

During his remarks to the graduating class, Judge David Strong said that Drug Court isn’t a right that every offender has.

“It’s a privilege,” he said. “Every person involved in the decision-making process wanted you to be here.”

Those who are allowed to participate in the program are given a second chance at life. If they complete the program, their felony charges are expunged. But it’s not easy. There is regular drug monitoring and treatment, and fines associated with their crimes must be paid. About 70 percent of those who go into Drug Court complete the program.

The program is a success, and is a much more efficient and humane way of dealing with drug offenders. Not everyone will agree, though. Some would like to see offenders locked up, regardless of the root-cause of their criminal activity.  But our communities are safer because of these programs. We thank those who are committed to rehabilitating these offenders.