BEING DEPENDENT on drugs and/or alcohol affects more than the addicted individual.

Instead of just adversely affecting one person’s life, it affects entire families and society itself.

Many times, it also results in crimes.

In Belmont County, there is a strong way to counteract these problems, and it’s drug court.

But the court isn’t an easy out.

THIS HAS been emphasized by Belmont County Common Pleas Court Judge Frank Fregiato who described the program as a grueling, long-term commitment that saves lives by eliminating drug addictions.

Fregiato said, “The primary goal is to provide non-violent chemically dependent offenders with the necessary tools of life skills to live drug- and alcohol-free lives and to become productive members of our community.”

To be eligible for the program, the person’s pending criminal charge must be a felony of the fourth or fifth degree, no higher. In addition, the offense must be non-violent and drugs must have played a significant part in the subject crime.

Counseling of various types, random drug and alcohol screening, court appearances every two weeks for an intensive review before Fregiato, meetings and monitoring with and by the probation officers as well as being financially responsible for court costs and supervisory fees are among the requirements.

If there is any backsliding, swift sanctions result as the individual must be accountable for his or her actions. This might be jail time, confinement at Awakenings or New Outlook, six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center, community service or even termination from the program, which includes sentencing on the original drug conviction.

It was noted that the program’s length is at least a year but not more than three years with mandatory follow-up monitoring after successful completion for an additional six months above and beyond the one-to-three year period.

Despite the requirements of drug court, it has been successfully completely by 196 individuals. Unfortunately, 140 were terminated and were sentenced.

JUST THINK, successful completion results in being drug-free, alcohol-free, crime-free and employed.

It takes work and effort, but we can heed the words of the mother of Ben Matlock, portrayed by Andy Griffith, in the old TV series. He quoted her as saying, “Ain’t nothing easy.”

But, if it’s your life or someone else’s, it’s worth it.