2009 Marks the 20th Anniversary of the First Drug Court in the Nation

“Drug courts are a wonderful first step for many people in recovery” - Richard Harris, Director of Addictions and Mental Health for Oregon DHS.

Richard Harris, Director of Addictions and Mental Health for Oregon DHS

(SALEM, Ore.) -

The Oregon Association of Drug Court Professionals (OADCP) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Miami-Dade Drug Court on May 18th 2009, the first in the nation.

The success of the first court sparked a national revolution that changed the face of the American Justice System by becoming the most successful justice strategy for dealing with drug-dependent citizens who emerge in the courts.

Officials claim that as a result, millions of lives have been saved and thousands of communities have been strengthened nationwide.

This event also celebrates our local history starting with the second oldest program in the United States, Multnomah County’s STOP court, with 18 years of success in reducing substance abuse, crime and recidivism.

“Drug courts are a wonderful first step for many people in recovery,” says Richard Harris Director of Addictions and Mental Health (AMH) Department of Human Services.

The event happens May 18th 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon, at the State Capitol Building hearing room 50 in Salem, Oregon.

Speakers include Oregon’s Attorney General John Kroger, Richard Harris Director of AMH Department of Human Service, Rep. Bill Kennemer, Rep. Ron Maurer, Rep. Chip Shields and Shannon Carey of Northwest Professional Consortium (NPC) Research.

Check out this story in Spanish on Noticias de Oregon