Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 Source: Pacific Daily News (US GU) Copyright: 2005 Pacific Daily News Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.guampdn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122 Author: Natalie J. Quinata Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) 11 GRADUATE FROM ADULT DRUG COURT Eleven men and women walked into new drug-free lives yesterday, with clean records and a new outlook on life. A commencement ceremony was held yesterday for the first graduates of the Adult Drug Court Program at the Superior Court of Guam, where local officials, family and friends gathered to celebrate and congratulate those who have successfully completed the two-year program. Superior Court Judge Alberto Lamorena, who conducted the ceremony, said he has worked very closely with the graduates for the past two years and has seen a tremendous change in the attitudes and self-confidence of those in the program. "People who come out from treatment and rehabilitation usually come out very positive and usually don't come back to the criminal court again," Lamorena said. Lamorena also said drug treatment and rehabilitation techniques are more cost-effective ways for the community to deal with the situation because it costs less to treat offenders and have them become productive members of society than it is to incarcerate them and not know if they have learned from their mistakes. The Adult Drug Court Program is an intensive two-year program that involves regular therapy sessions, drug testing, and various types of rehabilitation classes in addition to regular court appearances. Tanya O'Brien said her healthy 8-month-old son, Xander, is a living testament to the success of the drug program. "It's given me a whole new outlook on life, and it's given me a healthy child," Tanya O'Brien said. "I've learned how to go through life without drugs." O'Brien attended the ceremony in support of the graduates and hopes to soon be a part of her own commencement ceremony. Photo: 'New outlook on life': Tanya O'Brien, holding her baby, Xander, applauds the graduates of the first Judiciary of Guam Adult Drug Court. A member of the drug court's second cycle, she credits the program for helping people turn their lives away from drugs. - ---