MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. – Access to treatment service through Michigan circuit courts has now expanded for families affected by drug abuse.
According to Renee Campbell, Outpatient Director at the Great Lakes Recovery Centers, substance abuse affects more than just the user.
“I think it’s really important to support that family through that difficult time,” Campbell said. “Whether it be an arrest or residential treatment or whatever the case may be.”
Recently, Governor Whitmer signed legislation allowing circuit courts to start or adopt family treatment courts. It is said that this would create a clearer path to programs with an aim to address substance abuse, provide oversight on child safety and also grant access to mental health resources.
Marquette County Prosecutor Jenna Nelson said she has witnessed how drug abuse affects the people around the user.
“I have gotten a lot of phone calls from family members where I can’t necessarily talk to them about a case, but they’re really just desperate for their son, daughter, sister or whatever to get help,” Nelson said.
Nelson explained that while Marquette County has options for drug treatment, they lack one that’s specialized for family treatment.
“We do have a sobriety court program, we have a job court program, and, on the drug court program, there is a veteran’s track to that,” Nelson said. “Specific, obviously, to veterans. So, we do currently have a program for drug treatment.”
Nelson stated that the circuit court administration will determine how the family treatment court is integrated.
In the interim, Campbell said that she’s glad to see the courts taking an interest in the well-being of families alongside those struggling with drug abuse.
Another bill Governor Whitmer signed allows judges to review circumstances and to permit convicted participants of drug treatment programs to continue treatment. Currently, under law, if a participant in drug court programming is convicted of a felony for an offense that happened after their admittance into the program, their participation in the program must be terminated.
— with files from uppermichiganssource.com
