Wyoming/Sullivan Counties treatment Court Celebrates Four graduates During National Recovery Month
Tunkhannock, PA – The Wyoming/Sullivan Counties Treatment Court held a graduation ceremony thursday night, recognizing four individuals who successfully completed the rigorous program designed to address substance use disorders and reduce recidivism. The graduation took place during National Recovery Month, a national observance highlighting the importance of addiction treatment and recovery services.
Judge James Brobson emphasized the challenges of treatment court, stating, “treatment court’s not right for everybody.It is a challenge. The easy thing is, for these people who suffer from these longstanding problems in their lives, is to go to prison and do their time, but then they come back into their communities, and they recidivate very quickly. They fall back into the same old habits.” He underscored the program’s focus on long-term change as an alternative to incarceration.
This year’s graduating class included Chilson, Bonnie Davis, Joshua Tyler, and Catherine Getz. Chilson was awarded the Sandy vieczorek Kindness Award, named in memory of a Tunkhannock woman who championed treatment court following the loss of her son to addiction.Davis, who recently celebrated three years of sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous, shared how the program transformed her life. “I am a mom again, a sister, an aunt, and a major support for anyone struggling,” she said. ”I can be trusted, respected, and can and am able to have a relationship wiht the community. I’m productive,can manage money,pay bills,and live a healthy and clean life.”
Tyler recounted a moment of clarity following his 2021 arrest. “While standing there in handcuffs, I was actually relieved, as it was finaly over,” he explained. Despite facing discouragement from others in treatment centers and jails who suggested prison would be easier, he chose treatment court and will celebrate three years sober next month. “I’ve been able to do the work that has allowed me to be a person that is able to look myself in the mirror today and not hate the person I see,” he said.
Getz expressed gratitude for the prospect to heal and grow. “It gave me a chance to grow,a chance to heal,and,most importantly,a chance to become the very version of myself I can be. Today, I’m not just celebrating graduation, I’m celebrating a life I never thoght I could have,” she stated.
Treatment court offers an alternative to traditional incarceration for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, providing intensive supervision, treatment, and support services. The program aims to break the cycle of addiction and reduce recidivism rates by addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior.
