Addiction program graduates get new chance at life


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SALT LAKE COUNTY — The first class enrolled in the Alternative Substance Addiction Program, an early drug intervention program for younger offenders, graduated Monday. Three men received their certifications after 18 months of individual and group counseling.

“I ended up abusing my prescription pain pills," said an ASAP graduate. "I progressively got worse. I started doing heroin.”

The 22-year-old, who doesn’t want his name revealed, said he became addicted after being prescribed pain medication for his back after he had been in a four-wheeler accident.

“I started losing all my family, lost my job," he said. "I just kind of went downhill from there."

He said he also had two felonies and two misdemeanors for possession of drugs. His family said they thought the drug addiction would take over, and he wouldn’t be alive for his graduation.

“It’s nice to see he made his 22nd birthday this year,” said Amy Catmull, a mother of another graduate.

Janine Hansen, a treatment services program manager for Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services said when low- and high-risk felons recover side by side they often learn criminal behaviors from each other. Also, keeping convicted criminals out of jail and in the classroom saves taxpayer dollars.


Drugs out there can kill you, it can kill your family, and it can take everything you have.

–Amy Catmull


“If we put somebody in jail, that’s about $35,000 to $50,000 a year and this treatment is about $7,000 a year,” Hansen said.

Enrolled offenders pay a small portion, but what they gain is so much more: “I’ll have my life back,” said an ASAP graduate.

Upon graduation, all charges are dismissed. They also receive a second chance to create a new life — one with family, a job, a purpose and without drugs.

“Drugs out there can kill you, and it can kill your family, and it can take everything you have,” said Catmull.

Sixty low-risk offenders are enrolled in the youth-focused drug court and about 15 will graduate every quarter.

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