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When Mark* started smoking marijuana at age 14, it was highly possible that he would end up heading down a dark path.

But yesterday, giving his testimony as one of the graduates of the Drug Treatment Court, he said the programme saved him.

"Mi go court for assault and it wasn't a good experience. Mi did broke, couldn't afford a lawyer, so mi life coulda tek a turn fi the worse," he said.

"Mi always a bun weed from mi about 14, and after mi join the programme, mi realise seh mi always cross, fight fi everything. But the session dem help me, and mi finish now," he shared proudly at the graduation ceremony, which was held at the the Alhambra Inn Hotel under the theme 'Recovery is not an event but a journey'. At the event, Lashay Grant, counsellor at the National Council on Drug Abuse, called on Jamaicans struggling with substance abuse to take advantage of the various rehabilitation programmes available, including the Drug Treatment Court, which has become a lifeline for persons seeking a second chance.

"We have programmes out there that can actually help persons to rehabilitate and just be better overall for the society," said Grant. Nineteen participants completed the programme, with 13 in attendance to receive their certificates before a room filled with family members, court officials, and members of the judiciary. Grant, who has been working closely with the participants since January, said she was "elated" by their achievements.

"They have been through a lot of setbacks, but they progressed and really worked hard to be where they are today," she said. Grant explained the Drug Treatment Court's role.

"It's really for persons who commit petty offences like larceny or assault under the influence of drugs or alcohol," she said. Participants undergo a nine-month rehabilitation programme divided into phases, but some take longer due to relapses or other challenges.

"We offer individual and group counselling, random drug testing, and link participants to services like HEART/NSTA Trust and literacy programmes. When they leave, it's not just about stopping the substance, it's about equipping them with life skills so they can go out there and not reoffend," she said. Grant said marijuana and alcohol remain the most common substances among participants.

Parish Judge Maxine Ellis became emotional as she reflected on the transformation she has witnessed among participants.

"When they first enter to where they are now, it's night and day," she said. "They are literally changing before your very eyes. Their confidence [and] their hope it makes it all worth it." Ellis added that the Drug Treatment Court represents a more reasonable side of the justice system.

"It sends a signal that there is help, even when you've done wrong. It's about changing lives."

For Grant, stories like Mark's are proof that recovery is indeed a journey.

"It's not a quick fix but when you see them standing there, smiling with their families, you know it made an impact."

* Name changed to protect identity