HOOKED ON HEROIN: ‘Heroin Court’ Helps Addicts Fight Addiction, Avoid Jail
COLUMBUS (Ken Hines) — A Franklin County judge is doing his best to make sure central Ohioans stay off heroin and out of jail.
Judge Scott Vanderkarr presides over a so-called heroin court in Columbus where users of the drug can go in lieu of jail when law enforcement catches up to them.
The special court was deemed necessary when cases involving heroin became too numerous for Franklin County’s traditional drug court.
“The numbers have skyrocketed over the last 5 to 6 years,” Judge Vanderkarr said.
Each week, dozens of addicts appear in Vanderkarr’s courtroom, where they’re called clients instead of defendants. Once inside, the clients are drug tested and given the opportunity to share their stories with other addicts.
Vanderkarr says the Franklin County Drug Court program boasts a 50 percent success rate, significantly higher than those of many heroin support groups.
“It’s an interesting twist of having the court system and treatment merge together,” he said.
The court allows some people busted for heroin-related crimes to avoid jail — provided they stay clean and completed the program.
“We’ve been locking people up, stoning people, whipping them for a couple thousand years, and it doesn’t work,” Vanderkarr said.
ABC 6 In-Depth Report: Hooked On Heroin
– Upcoming Phone Banks
– ABC 6 Town Hall, May 21: Sign Up Now
– List of Helpful Resources
ABC 6 In-Depth Reports:
HOOKED ON HEROIN: ‘Heroin Court’ Helps Addicts Fight Addiction, Avoid Jail
HOOKED ON HEROIN: Should Dealers Be Held Responsible for Users’ Deaths
Hooked on Heroin: ‘Heroin Court’ Helps Addicts Fight Addiction, Avoid Jail
Hooked on Heroin: Should Dealers Be Held Responsible for Users’ Deaths
Hooked on Heroin Teens Fighting Battle of Their Lives
Hooked on Heroin: The Revolving Door of Justice for Drug Offenders
Hooked on Heroin: Gov. Kasich, Ohio AG Stress Schools Educating on Drug Dangers
Hooked on Heroin: Father Shining ‘Tyler’s Light’ on Dangers of High-Schoolers, Heroin
Hooked on Heroin: The Origins of Central Ohio’s Heroin Problem
Father Sentenced for Heroin OD at McDonald’s Play Area
Hooked on Heroin: Ohio Struggles to Fight Deadly Drug