(EL PASO/TELLER COUNTIES, Colo.) — Twelve people will be recognized for successfully completing the 4th Judicial District Recovery “Drug” Court Program on Thursday, Feb. 13, demonstrating unwavering commitment to their recovery journey.

The program started in 2001 in El Paso and Teller Counties as the second drug problem-solving court in Colorado. It is a rigorous problem-solving treatment court designed for people who have been through the criminal justice system because of substance abuse.

The program requires sustained abstinence from controlled substances and alcohol, active participation in any required treatment, and fulfilling educational and employment objectives outlined by the program’s clinical team. The participants have also gone through frequent performance reviews by the Recovery “Drug” Court Magistrate, the Honorable Gregory K. Duncan.

“We are honored and excited to celebrate the graduation of 12 amazing men and women from the Recovery Court program,” said El Paso County District Magistrate Duncan. “I am so proud of our graduates and look forward to celebrating this milestone on their road to recovery.”

The program is modeled after evidence-based problem-solving drug courts, which have proven effective in handling criminal cases. The goal is to divert non-violent, substance-abusing felony offenders into a comprehensive supervised program including follow-up with self-improvement goals.