Drug Court Helping Hicks Help Others
July 8, 2017 at 3:17 a.m.
Drug Court Helping Hicks Help Others
By Michael [email protected]
Hicks, 43, grew up in the Winona Lake area. He always had trouble with drug addiction.
Now that’s he’s clean, he started a Facebook page “Clean and Sober, That’s What’s Up,” to help others recover from addiction.
The Facebook page has just under 800 followers, and Hicks says he interacts with people from all over the world to help them work through their addictions.
The name for the group came from Hicks’ 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, who asked him once if he was clean and sober
He responded, “Yes, of course, Babe, that’s what’s up,” and the name of the group was born.
Hicks said he started it on his personal page first, then moved it to the “Clean and Sober” page.
Abel David, who runs one of the Serenity House group homes in town, said the group is a great way for people who are recovering to keep somewhat private.
“Some people are afraid to go to meetings. Even though it’s anonymous, you still have to stand up and say your name,” David said.
“It’s a lot of easier for people who walk into a drug program if they know the person who’s helping them stay clean has been through it,” Hicks said.
In addition to the page, Hicks helps people find resources by interacting with them in real life.
Hicks was arrested on felony drug charges in February 2016. Based on his prior criminal record, he thought he would spend the rest of the his life in prison.
But he said he had a spiritual awakening and was given another chance when his probation officer offered him the chance to go through drug court.
He credits his probation officer and his daughter as two of the big influences who helped him turn his life around.
Drug court has been in Kosciusko County since 2014. It works with addicts who have a high risk of re-offending.
The program is a minimum of 18 months, and participants undergo case management, counseling and drug screening.
If someone completes the program, they can get reduced charges or the case removed from their record, according to program director Ron Ousley.
The program has graduated 24 people since it began, Ousley said.
“We see our participants a couple times a week,” Ousley said.
Drug court is held in Kosciusko Circuit Court and presided over by Judge Michael Reed.
It is designed to keep people from returning to criminal court.
“Drug Court and Judge Reed saved my life,”?Hicks said.
Ousley said he’s had participants tell him they wanted to be drug counselors after the program, but Hicks has really taken the ball and run with it.
“What Dru is doing is really unique,” Ousley said. “It’s a pleasure to have him in the drug program.”
Hicks has invested a lot of time in the Facebook page and it has grown exponentially since he started it, Ousley said, adding, “That was his goal, to give back.”
Hicks said he’s proud of two of the people he sponsored in recovery, Brad Niles and Anthony Demske.
Hicks says when he graduates from drug court he wants to go into drug counseling.
“I know about it — I’ve lived it,” he said.
Hicks, 43, grew up in the Winona Lake area. He always had trouble with drug addiction.
Now that’s he’s clean, he started a Facebook page “Clean and Sober, That’s What’s Up,” to help others recover from addiction.
The Facebook page has just under 800 followers, and Hicks says he interacts with people from all over the world to help them work through their addictions.
The name for the group came from Hicks’ 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, who asked him once if he was clean and sober
He responded, “Yes, of course, Babe, that’s what’s up,” and the name of the group was born.
Hicks said he started it on his personal page first, then moved it to the “Clean and Sober” page.
Abel David, who runs one of the Serenity House group homes in town, said the group is a great way for people who are recovering to keep somewhat private.
“Some people are afraid to go to meetings. Even though it’s anonymous, you still have to stand up and say your name,” David said.
“It’s a lot of easier for people who walk into a drug program if they know the person who’s helping them stay clean has been through it,” Hicks said.
In addition to the page, Hicks helps people find resources by interacting with them in real life.
Hicks was arrested on felony drug charges in February 2016. Based on his prior criminal record, he thought he would spend the rest of the his life in prison.
But he said he had a spiritual awakening and was given another chance when his probation officer offered him the chance to go through drug court.
He credits his probation officer and his daughter as two of the big influences who helped him turn his life around.
Drug court has been in Kosciusko County since 2014. It works with addicts who have a high risk of re-offending.
The program is a minimum of 18 months, and participants undergo case management, counseling and drug screening.
If someone completes the program, they can get reduced charges or the case removed from their record, according to program director Ron Ousley.
The program has graduated 24 people since it began, Ousley said.
“We see our participants a couple times a week,” Ousley said.
Drug court is held in Kosciusko Circuit Court and presided over by Judge Michael Reed.
It is designed to keep people from returning to criminal court.
“Drug Court and Judge Reed saved my life,”?Hicks said.
Ousley said he’s had participants tell him they wanted to be drug counselors after the program, but Hicks has really taken the ball and run with it.
“What Dru is doing is really unique,” Ousley said. “It’s a pleasure to have him in the drug program.”
Hicks has invested a lot of time in the Facebook page and it has grown exponentially since he started it, Ousley said, adding, “That was his goal, to give back.”
Hicks said he’s proud of two of the people he sponsored in recovery, Brad Niles and Anthony Demske.
Hicks says when he graduates from drug court he wants to go into drug counseling.
“I know about it — I’ve lived it,” he said.
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