Edmonton’s Drug Treatment Court Service is Helping Save Lives

The Drug Treatment Court Service is a program dedicated to healing and rehabilitating those suffering from drug abuse and addiction. Operated by the Edmonton John Howard Society (EJHS), the program is working to save Albertans in need of drug treatment therapy and reintegration into their local communities. The Edmonton Drug Treatment Court Service (EDTCS) program has proven to be effective since its initiation in 2005 and not only helps break the cycle of crime and addiction, but also works through restorative justice and cost reduction for the courts.

The EDTCS program is quickly expanding within Alberta with 21 participants currently enrolled in Edmonton and Calgary. It is planned to serve over 40 people and expand into additional Alberta cities including Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

Ahlstrom Wright lawyer, Lorne Penner, is the Vice Chairman on the EJHS Board where he volunteers his time and legal experience in an effort to further develop programs like the Drug Treatment Court Service.

More About the Edmonton Drug Treatment Court Service on CBC:

• How Edmonton’s drug court program changed the lives of two former drug users

About Edmonton Drug Treatment Court Service (EDTCS)

EDTCS is an intensive one-year (minimum) court-supervised drug treatment program that helps participants break the cycle of crime and addiction, learn to live a life free of addiction to drugs, make amends for past crimes and continue on to become productive and contributing members of society. The purpose of the drug treatment court is to restore justice through reduced crime recidivism and victimization in the community and to decrease overall expenditures of the Courts, Legal, Corrections and Human Services systems. The goal of the drug treatment court is to support drug addicts to rebuild their life and learn to live a lifetime in recovery.

About Edmonton John Howard Society (EJHS)

The Edmonton John Howard Society is a non-profit, charitable organization serving young people without support systems, victims, and people at risk or involved with the justice system. Through their programs and services, the EJHS works to prevent crime and to help people affected by crime. The EJHS believes in restoring lives, preventing crime, and strengthening communities.

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