Offenders get clean in Adult Drug Court

Click here to view original web page at www.timeswv.com

FAIRMONT — Celebrating more than 400 days drug-free, Josh Hershman graduated from Marion County Adult Drug Court Thursday.

“I never thought this day would be here, but after 18 months of hard work, I’m pleased to say that I’m now a graduate of the Marion County Adult Drug Court,” Hershman said during the graduation in the courtroom of Marion County Judge Patrick N. Wilson at the Marion County Courthouse in Fairmont. He received a certificate of achievement.

Hershman, of Rivesville, was the sole graduate of the program Thursday, but the drug court has helped others over the years.

According to Jessica L. Bennett, Drug Court probation officer with the Marion County Probation Office, there have been 13 graduations since the court was started five years ago.

“The purpose is to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among offenders and to increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense treatment; mandatory periodic drug testing; community supervision; appropriate sanctions and incentives; and other rehabilitation services, all of which is supervised by a judicial officer,” she said.

Hershman said his addiction began when he was 26 and was prescribed painkillers after undergoing a laser operation for kidney stones. He said he became hooked on pain medication and started using other drugs.

Then, he was caught intoxicated in a store in 2016. He said he was on Xanax and Suboxone at the time.

During his speech at the graduation, he spoke about his original thoughts when it came to the adult drug court.

“I started out the program with intentions of just getting out of jail and buying some time on my final probation violation,” he said. “In the beginning, I didn’t know or care if I would ever complete drug court. I knew that I wanted to quit using drugs and change my way of living, but I didn’t really want to put in all the work to do so. The first few months started out well and I really wanted to do better.”

Hershman described some setbacks during his journey when he was incarcerated, but he kept reminding himself that he wanted to complete the program. He said “something changed” at one point and he felt a feeling he never felt before.

“I remember telling my counselor that I was going to complete this program in spite of everyone that thought that I couldn’t,” he said. “When she asked if that was my main purpose for graduation, I thought long and hard.”

He said he thought about his wife and kids, his mother and father, and “endless opportunities” that he had put aside because of his addiction.

“I now wanted to do this for myself and everyone that knew I had it in me and wanted me to succeed,” he said.

After entering the final phase of the program, he said he didn’t have anymore setbacks and was “proud to say that I’ve been sober since Sept. 12, 2018.”

“I’ve learned a lot of things since starting drug court,” he said. “I’ve learned that I don’t need to be high to have a good time. I’ve learned that I’m not perfect and not always right.”

Like many people facing addiction, Hershman had to learn how to set goals and trust others.

“I’ve learned that hard work and setting goals is important to striving to do your best. Always set your goals high and never settle for not accomplishing them. I’ve learned that not everyone is out to get you. People will help you if you ask for it. Most importantly, I’ve learned that no matter what, whether good or bad, the truth will always set you free. Honesty is a big key to success,” Hershman said.

Hershman said he’s accomplished many things since starting drug court, such as attending NA meetings again and starting the process of getting back his driver’s license.

“I graduated all classes required by the Drug Court program with zero unexcused absences,” he said. “I had no setbacks in Phases Two and Three and wasn’t incarcerated in Phase 3.

Now into his sixth week on a full-time job, Hershman has marked a year of continuous sobriety.

“My overall greatest accomplishment is that I’ve found the old me, the kind, gentle, easy-going, hardworking honest me. I don’t really know where I’d be without the program, but I’m pleased to say that I’m proud of myself today for graduating,” he said.

He thanked his wife, Jaclyn, and five children for supporting him and being there for him, as well as his parents for their support.

He also thanked Judge Wilson, Bennett and the treatment team for not giving up on him, even when he wanted to give up on himself. Hershman’s parents, Yvonne and Tim Hershman, attended the graduation.

“He’s worked super hard in Drug Court and battling addiction,” Yvonne said. “He’s never been more determined than in this last year.”

Though she said her son’s battle with addiction was tough, she said they “just knew that he had it in him” to succeed.

“We knew that he could do it, and it was up to him,” she said.

Tim was proud of his son for graduating drug court.

“It’s great,” he said, adding it was “a lot of hard work for him.”

Judge Wilson, who has been involved with the adult drug court for a little more than three and a half years, said he at first didn’t know that much about the program and was unsure how he felt about it. But after becoming familiar with it, he found out how transformational the program is, he said.

“I have certainly, certainly learned that once someone gets involved in addiction, addiction gets hold of those people. It’s hard to deal with that. It’s hard to come back. It’s hard to not be affected because the drugs certainly can in many ways, so many ways, negatively affect those people,” Wilson said.

He said the Marion County Adult Drug Court program “is designed to and very effectively helps those people” get treatment and therapy and get “back on track so that they will be able to deal with the addiction, deal with learning how to avoid being in any other problems with the law” and get them on track to be working, productive citizens.

“It’s a working program that has a major, clear effect on many of the participants in the program,” he said. “It’s always an absolute thrill for me to see someone who has went through what’s a very intensive program and then graduate.”

Judge Wilson said the program is not “a piece of cake” or something that is easy to do.

“It’s classes every day, it’s therapy sessions, it’s treatment, it’s community service that they’re giving back to the community, it’s learning how to and obtaining work as part of the program before you can graduate,” he said. “And it’s becoming productive. It’s not an easy program.”

He said it’s stringent, and “very, very involved.”

He recognized Hershman for being more than 400 days drug-free, noting he has been with the program for going on two years. Those attending the graduation gave him a round of applause.

“He has completed all of the classroom work necessary for this program,” Judge Wilson said. “Also, in addition to completing all of the classroom work, he has participated in numerous, numerous hours of community service.”

The judge also noted that Hershman is in the process of becoming a “peer leader” in NA meetings.

“He’s giving back in that way too now,” he said. “He is full-time employed, and he has just made a complete change in his life, all for the better. And I can’t be any more proud of you Josh. I just wanted to say that.”

According to Bennett, there are 29 drug courts in West Virginia. “Since 2014 when the Marion County Adult Drug Court was established, all ADC referrals have been accepted, and the last graduate was noted in 2017 and the last aftercare completion date was 2018,” she said.

She said there have been 13 graduations, 1 withdrawal, and 22 individuals terminated from the program.