Good life ahead for drug court graduates

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

By KATE THAYER

kthayer@kcchronicle.com

ST. CHARLES -- Glenda DeKing of North Aurora said she's never felt better.

"I never knew life could be this good," she said.

About three years ago, that wasn't the case.

The 47-year-old mother of four smoked crack cocaine for 13 years, and even had two of her sons sell drugs to earn money for the family.

On Wednesday night, DeKing, dressed in a cap and gown, said she doesn't touch drugs anymore. She attributes that to the Kane County Drug Rehabilitation Court.

About 70 others joined DeKing on Wednesday for a graduation ceremony at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles to mark their completion of the program.

To participate in the program, addicts agree to stay clean for at least two years, attend support group meetings and take drug tests three times a week.

In exchange, they don't go to prison for their felony drug charges.

Circuit Judge Thomas Mueller runs the program for adults and juveniles.

He said treating drug addicts is the only solution.

"Prison is not very successful at rehabilitating (addicts)," Mueller said.

He said he's proud to see the graduates and their families after seeing them at their worst.

Joe, 22, was one of the graduates at the ceremony.

He said he had been wanting to change his addictive ways when drug court came along.

"I had broken the law numerous times," he said. "I wanted to make a change."

Now, he said, his life is "100 times better."

"I have more today than I ever had before ... the respect of my family, possessions, everything. It got pretty bad before."

Several graduates, some of whom spoke at the ceremony, discussed the improvement of life and how the program gave them another chance.

The rehabilitation program not only improved the graduates' lives, but also their families, many said.

Jordan, 12, attended the ceremony to watch her mother graduate. She's was living with her grandparents in Batavia while her mother went through the program and other treatment.

She had a smile on her face the whole time.

"I haven't been able to see my mom a lot for the past couple years, and now I can see her again," she said. "Now, I see her all the time. It's a lot of happy moments."