Drug Court graduates celebrate milestone

LIHUE — There were no empty seats in the gallery of Chief Judge Randall Valenciano’s Fifth Circuit courtroom Friday, but the crowd wasn’t there to attend court proceedings. Family, friends, court officials Kauai County Council members and community members had gathered to celebrate the graduation of six individuals from the Kauai Drug Court.

After years of hard work and dedication to make a better life for themselves and healing relationships with family, loved ones and friends, each participant, donned in stacks of colourful leis, stood at the podium in front of the room to tell the story of their sobriety journey.

During his time in Drug Court, Melvan Ruaboro faced many challenges, but he eventually overcame those challenges by leading and inspiring those around him.

Struggling with methamphetamine and alcohol addictions, Ruaboro told the crowd he entered the program out of desperation. In the past, he said he’d tried many different ways to overcome his problem, but always ended up relapsing.

“My selfish ways got me into a lot of trouble and more than a few relapses. I really appreciate the Drug Court style for not being lenient on me and sticking to their gun. I cannot stress that more than enough,” he said.

Drug Court, he said, gave him the chance to recover from his addiction.

For the past 459 days, Kimberly Oakes has been clean and sober. She is now working part time and attending college part time at Kauai Community College, where she is consistently earning straight A’s.

Throughout her time in Drug Court, Oakes said she has learned a lot about herself.

“I’ve had the time to reflect on my life I was heading towards and the people I was taking for granted. The only person I was truly killing was myself. At one time, I accepted the fact I was living out of my car, forgetting responsibilities and distancing myself from the ones I loved. I couldn’t see a future for myself and that was the least of my problems,” she said.

Her problem, she said, was her addiction, that blinded her from everything and everyone around her. It impacted her way of thinking and deepened her depression.

“With the help from Drug Court, I can see a brighter future today. I’ve been able to build relationships and trusts, along with setting goals and achieving them. I was able to get a second chance in life to focus on a college education, pay off my debt and love myself,” she said.

Before participating in Drug Court, Brandon Ishida said he was living a horrible life, because drugs and alcohol had taken over his mind, body and spirit. For the past 513 days, he’s been clean and sober.

“I was using everyday, just to start my day. I was always trying to find more ways to get more and more of my drug. Choices I made, ended up stealing from my family and friends, always trying to find the next person to rip off, lying to everyone around me,” he said.

His life was a complete mess, he was living in darkness, not knowing who he was anymore, until one day, he got arrested and then admitted into Drug Court. That ended up being the best thing for him, he said.

“It taught me how to be a genuine gentlemen and how to show compassion, respect and humility to others. It also taught me how to be dependable and accountable in the things I do in my life today,” he said.

Going through the program has helped him restore relationships with his family and friends and has helped him become a contributing member of society.

“I’m truly grateful for my experience in Drug Court. In the beginning I struggled, my behaviors held me back from changing. I always thought everything I did was the result of some other person, place or thing, said Caitlin Simpson, who has been clean and sober now for 255 days now.

Drug Court, she told the crowd, was the best thing that could have ever happened to her, because it saved her life.

“I didn’t know how to live life on life’s terms. I didn’t know how to deal with anything, without needing some drugs and alcohol,” she said.

The programs, she said, showed her a good way to live.

“My life before Drug Court was complete chaos and craziness. I drug my daughter, myself and this community, through my insanity. I did whatever it took to use. Shame and guilt kept me in my disease and it kept me in the revolving doors of jail,” she said.

Because of Drug Court, Simpson said her life has begun. She is a 4.0 student in college, has a job she loves and is able to be a good mother to her daughter.

Three years ago, Brianne Pa said she entered Drug Court lost and confused.

“I was sitting in jail with more felony charges than I can count with fingers on my hands. Awaiting my destiny, I experienced moments of self hate, self pity and then self awareness as I realized being put away from society was probably the best thing that happened to me,” she said.

The Drug Court, she said, provided her an opportunity to attend the best treatment center in the state.

“I had only caused hurt and pain to my family and my loved ones. It was hard to let go of everything and everyone that was familiar to her, but I had finally run out of options, living a life where I made decisions,” she said.

In treatment, she learned how to develop relationships; it has given her a new perspective on life.

Living in her car, drinking every night and taking on all of life’s problems by herself, Sheri Brede said she was forced to come out of denial about her substance abuse during a five-year prison term and asked for Drug Court.

“I wasn’t ready to die yet and made a commitment to do this program so I can live,” she said.

Drug Court, she said, is the best thing she has ever done for herself.

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Bethany Freudenthal, courts, crime and county reporter, can be reached at 652-7891 or bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com.