Drug Court Graduates Praise Tulsa Program

Friday, the newest graduates of Tulsa County's Drug Court Program celebrated their sobriety and a chance to begin a new life.

They spent more than a year in the program getting clean, instead of going to prison.

The graduates didn't have it easy; the drug court put the participants through more than 15 appointments a week and random drug tests.

It was more than just a graduation from a drug treatment program. For Madison Whorton, the program pulled her out of a decade of addiction.

"This is a huge accomplishment. It was either go to prison, end up doing the same things, being around the same people and probably never making it back, and this program has completely changed our lives, my life and I know his," Whorton said.

She was one of the many faces of Tulsa County's Drug Court which gives drug offenders one last choice, to sober up or spend time behind bars.

"My bottom was the fact of knowing that I was going to lose my family. They were done. They've had enough. I was ready for them to be done you know I put them through enough," Whorton said.

Program Director of Tulsa County Specialty Courts, Rose Ewing, said the drug court isn't easy.

Participants have more than a dozen appointments each week and have to submit to random drug testing, but the alternative is prison or jail time.

"That's better for the client, better for the client's family and better for the taxpayers. It saves all of us money," Ewing said.

Participant, Aaron Freeman said the program taught him how to fight addiction.

"It did great things for me in my life,” he said. “It really changed everything about every aspect in my life and it means a greater future for me."

Tommy Sublett was a 17-year addict – Friday he stood with his bride, Madison Whorton, who he met in the program.

"At the same time we were both on our own sobriety tracks, but it's awesome having family, but also having a partner that understands you," he said.

Sublett and Whorton are starting their new life together, and are excited about their future.

"It's like a country song played backwards, you get everything back," Sublett said.

The drug court holds four of the graduations a year and some of the participants get their cases dismissed or expunged.