Drug Court Alums Lend a Helping Hand

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"Drug court alums offer a helping hand: Graduates of Nez Perce County program want to help other addicts in transition [The Lewiston Morning Tribune, Idaho]
Jan. 3--Kanela credits her support network for the transformation from a drug addict to a leader.

That support from Nez Perce County's drug court program has led to 20 months of sobriety for the 23-year-old Lewiston woman, and a desire to offer her own stepping stone of help to addicts in need.

"I took and took from this community for so long," said Kanela, now a drug court alumna, "and (this is) the only way to give back to society."

She has joined forces with fellow drug court graduates to form their own support group. Called A New Way, the drug court graduates banded together in July as another leg of support for near-graduates who face diminishing supervision as they go through drug court

phases.

"When we all started doing drug court, we didn't have anyone to help us or guide us," said Kanela, the informal leader of A New Way. Anonymity is paramount to the group, and members only know each other on a first-name basis."