In Spokane County’s drug court, the holidays can overwhelm those struggling with addiction. Those who are in college face the stress of exams without the option of substances that help them pull all-nighters. Others are working seasonal jobs and must fit into their busy schedules random drug tests, court appearances, addiction treatment and support groups.

The 91 current drug court participants have all been given a chance to turn their lives around. But it’s an expensive second chance, costing $7,500 to $8,000 per participant for the 12 months it takes to complete the program.

Superior Court Judge Linda Tompkins and other court personnel also experience stress this time of year. It’s budget time. And though drug court is now 11 years old in Spokane County, it struggles every year to generate enough funding to meet its optimal budget of $1.5 million. Drug court relies on a combination of local, state and federal funding. These money sources are always vulnerable.

For instance, a $167,172 federal grant ended Sept. 30. And this halted – temporarily – the ability to admit new people into the drug court program.

Tompkins and others are making their case to county and state officials now for adequate funding. Their pitch: Drug offenses can cost society a lot more than drug court’s $7,500 to $8,000 per person. Addicts are at risk to become the criminals who break into cars and homes for items to sell for drugs. They are at risk of neglecting their children, who then require intervention by other agencies, such as Child Protective Services. And a person in jail or prison always costs society more than a person who is employed and paying taxes. Many drug court participants hold jobs while working the program.

There are more than 1,500 drug courts nationwide, and according to a June 2006 U.S. Department of Justice analysis, “drug court graduates have significantly lower rearrest rates – lasting more than two years beyond graduation – than those who do not participate in the program.”

In Spokane County, about half the participants graduate. The recidivism rate for graduates is 10 percent the first year and between 10 percent and 35 percent in subsequent years, but it’s 70 percent for those who do not qualify for drug court or who wash out before graduating.

The drug courts have figured out that addicts need a legal and holistic approach to their challenges. “Every person, given the right mix, has the potential to work themselves back into a safe and lawful life,” Tompkins says.

Societal programs that go after systemic causes and cures do not come cheap. Superior Court, using a $60,000 grant approved and funded by county taxpayers, is now researching ways to design a court that addresses the way people with mental illnesses interact with the criminal justice system.

The challenge is to show how these specialized courts can salvage the lives of addicts and the mentally ill, and save tax dollars, too. That’s a hard sell – in any season of the year.