We're not done yet: Drug court for drug abusers

At a regular session of the Seattle drug court, Jenifer Paris, 36, sounded hopeful. She was six months clean, she said, after 22 years of cocaine and heroin use and stretches of homelessness and prostitution. She is in a methadone maintenance program – acceptable to many drug courts – and in therapy.

"You guys are the first people to believe in me," she said. "I'm full of gratitude for the opportunity and for you not kicking me out," she said, eyes sweeping from Judge J. Wesley Saint Clair to the prosecutor and her public defender.

"We're not done yet," Judge Saint Clair replied with a hint of a smile.

Advice for family members of drug addicts: Drug court may help them straighten out.

Read another drug court story.

Thanks to Erik Eckholm for the source article in the Oct. 15 issue of the NY Times.