National Rally Stops In Tulsa; Celebrates A Different Way To Help Addicts

A national motorcycle relay stopped in Tulsa Wednesday to support alternative court programs. Participants carried a gavel 3,000 miles across the country.

Tulsa County has several alternative courts: drug court, DUI court, mental health court and a court just for military veterans.

The gavel was passed on in Tulsa and will be carried to the next handoff point in Fort Smith. The relay is a way to honor people who have overcome their addictions and the people who made it possible.

These alternative courts focus on rehabilitation, counseling and changing a person's mindset, which then changes their life.

"Give drug court a chance," recovering meth addict Clifton Keathley said. "I didn't want to at first, I just figured it was a way to stay out of jail, but the counseling changed my way of thinking."

More than 75 percent of the people who complete drug court don't get arrested again. These courts save taxpayers about $13,000 for every person treated.