WHEREAS, drug treatment courts use a team of court and community professionals to help ensure that offenders who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol receive the intensive treatment they need to become healthy, law abiding, and productive family and community members; and
WHEREAS, drug courts have been restoring lives and families since 1995; there are more than 4,000 treatment drug courts nationwide and over 60 courts in 32 counties in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, they save an average of $6,000 for every individual they serve; and
WHEREAS, drug treatment courts can significantly improve substance use disorder treatment outcomes, substantially reduce addiction and related crimes, and do so at less expense than other criminal justice strategies; and
WHEREAS, drug courts improve education, employment, housing and financial stability, promote family reunification, reduce foster care placements and increase the rate of addicted mothers delivering babies who are fully drug free; and
WHEREAS, drug courts facilitate community-wide partnerships, bringing together public safety and public health; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes the vital contributions and reforms that drug treatment courts have brought to our justice system;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May, 2022, as “DRUG COURT MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.