Individuals arrested for drug possession or drug usage in Charlotte may fear that their lives are over. When arrested, people tend to let their thoughts spiral, imagining not just reputational hits but an inability to find success in careers and life afterwards. In fact, the stress and anxiety of getting caught with drugs may lead an individual to feel as though they need to self medicate with even more illicit substances just to calm down or because they think they have nothing else to lose.
Thankfully, such thoughts are demonstrably false in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Through Mecklenburg’s recovery court and STEP program, individuals can go through the criminal justice system and receive help adjusting to a life of sobriety.
At Southeastern Recovery Center, we are always advocating for our patients to take the necessary steps required to defeat a substance use disorder and live without drugs or alcohol. But more than that, we also try to spread awareness for how insidious substance use disorders really are. It takes a culture of understanding and forgiveness for individuals to feel free to receive drug addiction treatment and return to normal living. Thanks to Mecklenburg County’s recovery court and STEP program, even individuals who have been arrested for drugs can still live a healthy, successful life.
Article TL;DR: Court-mandated programs like Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court & STEP Program allow individuals who are arrested for drug charges to receive help with their addiction. While the criminal justice system enforces participation in such initiatives, they can be as effective in curbing addiction as voluntary programs, and also help communities destigmatize substance use disorders and individuals that suffer from them.
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What is Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court and STEP Program? Mecklenburg County’s recovery court and STEP program our system in place to help individuals arrested for drugs return to healthy living through a court-mandated protocol.
Does Mecklenburg County Have a Drug Court? Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court serves as its drug court.
Is the STEP Program the Only Way the NC Judicial Branch Attempts to Intervene With Addiction? No, the NC judicial branch also has programs like the young adult diversion program to help intervene with drug addiction.
Mecklenburg County Opioid & SUD Task Force. The Mecklenburg County Opioid & SUD Task Force is a community-based initiative that allows North Carolinians to look out for each other and intervene in cases of opioid addiction as well as other substances.
What Happens if I Refuse to Stick to a Recovery Court Program Like Mecklenburg County’s STEP? Not sticking to a recovery court program like STEP can result in fines and jail time.
What is the impact of Mecklenburg County’s Criminal Justice Services for Drug Addicts? Programs like the STEP program have shown to be as effective or more than voluntary steps taken by addicts.
FAQs about Arrested for Drugs in Charlotte? How Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court & STEP Program Can Change Everything. Learn answers to frequently asked questions about what happens when you’re arrested for drugs in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
What is Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court and STEP Program?
Mecklenburg County’s recovery court is a system that exists to “holistically inspire and empower individuals on the pathway to recovery and mental wellness.” Recovery courts attempt to do this by connecting family, friends, and peers with community resources and legal entities so that individuals suffering from substance use disorders can connect with advocates. The overall goal of recovery court is to reduce the stigma of recovery in the criminal justice system.
In Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court, they’ve created a STEP program, or S.T.E.P. program. The S.T.E.P. program stands for Supervision, Treatment, Education, and Prevention, and was established in 1995 to help individuals suffering from substance use disorders receive treatment while still holding them accountable for complying with any court ordered plans.
Does Mecklenburg County Have a Drug Court?
Yes, Mecklenburg County’s drug court is known as its recovery court, which enforces the STEP program. Individuals from other counties across North Carolina (or from other states entirely) may be used to different names for drug courts, but that’s how recovery in the criminal justice system works in Mecklenburg County.
Is the STEP Program the Only Way the NC Judicial Branch Attempts to Intervene With Addiction?
The STEP program is not the only way that the North Carolina judicial branch attempts to intervene with addiction. For example, there is a newer young adult diversion program in place, as featured on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department website. This program is designed to help qualified juveniles avoid prosecution in the court system.
Mecklenburg County youth aged 6 – 17 are afforded the opportunity to choose between one of five 8-hour programs that teach different life skills.
That said, enrollment is not always voluntary. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers may refer the child to this new youth diversion program as a result of various misdemeanor offenses, including alcohol or drug violations.
Mecklenburg County Opioid & SUD Task Force
As far as other opportunities for individuals in Charlotte, North Carolina to receive assistance with substance use disorders, there is also the Mecklenburg County Opioid and SUD Task Force. This is a community-based initiative that parents, teachers, and members of various facets of Charlotte, North Carolina (such as members of the prevention, treatment, and criminal justice system) all collaborate on.
Mecklenburg County Opioid & SUD Task Force coordinates community response to the ongoing opioid epidemic, providing education, supporting the passage of laws such as the Strengthening Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act, and conducting prevention education with youth and parents through both public and private schools.
What Happens if I Refuse to Stick to a Recovery Court Program Like Mecklenburg County’s STEP?
The punishment for violating court order rehab programs like the STEP program include fines or jail time. The STEP program offered through Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice services is meant to help individuals, but the court also has to enforce punishments for individuals who continue to present a danger to themselves or others.
At Southeastern Recovery Center, we try to make it clear that programs like STEP are ultimately trying to help individuals. They worked to destigmatize addiction and show individuals that there’s plenty of room for healthy living and success even if they’ve been arrested for possessing or using drugs.
What is the impact of Mecklenburg County’s Criminal Justice Services for Drug Addicts?
Studies have shown that court mandated treatment for drug addiction can be effective:
- Research has shown that substance abusers were court ordered to do the treatment as well or better than those who enter voluntarily.
- Mandated patients have lower motivation for change, yet show similar levels of therapeutic change during treatment as voluntary patients
- Adults in drug court had a 59.7% graduation rate, while juveniles in drug courts had a 62.1% graduation rate in 2019.
While individuals who are mandated to participate in STEP by Recovery Court may initially be resistant to change, there is evidence that over time, they begin to see the value in such programs. As long as individuals in Charlotte, NC continue to look out for those suffering from substance use disorders, we continue to help people defeat their addiction, all while destigmatizing their suffering.
FAQs about Arrested for Drugs in Charlotte? How Mecklenburg County’s Recovery Court & STEP Program Can Change Everything
Is getting arrested for drugs the end of my life or career?
No, getting arrested for drugs is not the end of your life or career. Particularly in Mecklenburg County, recovery court and the STEP program can help an individual get their life back on track.
What is Mecklenburg County’s STEP Program?
Mecklenburg County’s STEP program stands for Supervision, Treatment, Education, and Prevention and is meant to help individuals suffering from drug or alcohol addiction receive treatment.
Can I get in trouble for violating the rules of the STEP program?
Yes, because the STEP program is hosted by the North Carolina judicial branch, violating the rules of the STEP program can get you in trouble, resulting in fines or jail time.
Are there drug and alcohol programs like STEP for youth?
Yes, in Charlotte, North Carolina Mecklenburg County youth can partake in the young adult diversion program to learn how to avoid prosecution in the court system for issues such as drug or alcohol use.
Sources:
Judicial, Carolina. “26th Judicial District Recovery Court S.T.E.P. Program to Hold Celebrations | North Carolina Judicial Branch.” Nccourts.gov, 17 May 2022, www.nccourts.gov/news/tag/press-release/26th-judicial-district-recovery-court-step-program-to-hold-celebrations.
“S.T.E.P. Program | Criminal Justice Services.” Cjs.mecknc.gov, cjs.mecknc.gov/Services/STEP.
“Youth Diversion.” Www.charlottenc.gov, www.charlottenc.gov/cmpd/Our-Organization/Youth-Diversion.
“Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Task Force | Criminal Justice Services.” Cjs.mecknc.gov, cjs.mecknc.gov/Committees/SUDTF.
Coviello, Donna M., et al. “Does Mandating Offenders to Treatment Improve Completion Rates?” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, vol. 44, no. 4, Apr. 2013, pp. 417–425, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3578041/, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.10.003. Accessed 20 Mar. 2019.
Devall, Kristen, et al. Painting the Current Picture a National Report on Treatment Courts in the United States.
