RED BLUFF — A group of 10 people were recognized Tuesday at the Tehama County Adult Drug Court graduation celebration held at the Tehama County Department of Education.
Hugs and congratulations were given out well in advance of the ceremony, with at least one woman being told the person remembered well their first encounter with her at Dog Island Park, where she reportedly walked up “pissed that we walked into your home.”
Mental Health Director Betsy Gown and Substance Abuse Recovery Director Phillip Hernandez welcomed the audience, along with Tehama County Superior Court Presiding Judge Todd Bottke. Bottke spoke about how graduations always bring the talk about recovery and responsibility, but the one thing he wanted graduates to remember was to make things that are important a priority, he said.
“Each one of you decided at whatever time, whether the middle or end of your rope,” Bottke said. “You made a decision as to what was important for you. Graduation is the culmination and formal acknowledgement of your work.”
Hernandez said the graduates have come a long way from when they started the program and reminded them that they are not done yet.
“Your journey has just begun and your success depends on what you do from this day forward,” Hernandez said. “What you do from graduation forward is where the rubber meets the road. It’s where success becomes real.”
While there were no behavioral health graduates this time, Gowan echoed the sentiments expressed by Hernandez and talked about the importance of the program participants and their choices.
“Every day you change and grow,” Gowan said.
She also talked about mental health and the stigma around it as well as the fact that mental illness is something that is biologically based and sometimes is triggered by trauma.
The final portion of the evening prior to graduates receiving their certificate and the gift of a copy of their booking photo was an alumni speaker, a role filled by Jacob Lenihan of Corning who graduated in 2018. Expecting things to be perfect right away, he entered the program with a chip on his shoulder when day three rolled around and it was time for intake and things weren’t perfect, he said.
“I didn’t want to be there, but I did,” Lenihan said. “It was the first time I’d tried to be clean. I had a chip on my shoulder, but really I was just scared.”
Getting on his bicycle at 5 a.m. and riding a couple of miles to a bus stop in Corning that headed past some of the places where he had gotten drugs was difficult.
“It was hard, but I’m glad I kept going,” Lenihan said. “It was when I got involved in groups that I noticed a different outlook on life. In three to four months, I was riding in a Jetta to work and in phase 3, I started a job I’ve been at for a year and a half. I still use the tools I learned that I never thought I’d use. I still have situations where I hear Brian’s voice telling me what to do. Drug Court is awesome and it’s just what I needed to set me free. Drug Court gave me the tools to get where I am and the blessing keeps going.”
Lenihan encouraged participants to not let recovery stop with the end of drug court, but to find what works for them.
“Your life will get better,” Lenihan said. “I promise that.”
