By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

The Dallas County District Court is making a difference in people’s lives by helping them with their drug or alcohol problems.

Ten people were honored by Judge Robert Armstrong for graduating Friday from Dallas County County Drug Court. Each graduate was awarded a certificate of completion and a round of applause from their family and friends that were there to support them through the process.

“After 27 months, it has been a really long journey, and I feel accomplished,” said drug court graduate Christina. “I didn’t think I would be able to finish it honestly, but as long as I wanted to be a good mom to my children, it was important for me to accomplish this.”

Christina said it was her children that motivated her to complete the course, and it has inspired her to change her life.

“I’ve started going to school, so I can be a social worker because I want to be able to give back and help the people who need help,” Christina said. “I plan to continue to work on my sobriety and myself so I can stay sober and continue college to have a better future for my kids and I.”

Graduate Annette said it was a tough challenge, but she came out a better person.

“It was hard in the beginning,” Annette said. “I was very angry, but now I have come to a calm. I learned how to appreciate myself and other people and how to live drug free.”

She said she learned much during her time in the program.

“It taught me how to let go of drugs, anger and other people in my life,” Annette said. “It taught me how to appreciate the little things in life, but most of all it taught me how to appreciate myself.”

District Court Judge Robert Armstrong believes the program is making a difference because the system isn’t just putting people behind bars.

“It sounds good just to lock people up, and there are people that we lock up every day that need to be,” Armstrong said. “But to deal with the root cause and some of the crime, you’ve got to deal with substance abuse issues because so much of our crime grows out of substance abuse problems.”

Judge Armstrong said the majority of people that go through Dallas County Drug Court succeed after graduating from the program.

“They do an excellent job,” Christina said. “They really want what is best for us, and they really want to see us turn our lives around.”