Morgan City man charged with stealing vehicle driven in fatal crash
October 6, 2009
James "Jim" Templet
October 8, 2009
The Lafourche Parish Drug Treatment Court opened its first adult treatment facility outside the courthouse in Thibodaux last week.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at its new clinic in Cut Off. Opened on Aug. 11, the clinic is located in the Sheriff’s Office South Lafourche Substation, 102 West 91st St.
Drug court administrator Fred Duplechin said the clinic was conceived so clients living and working in lower Lafourche can more easily meet their rigorous drug court obligations.
“We’re doing this because it’s 84 miles from Thibodaux to Grand Isle,” he said. “Most of their therapy work can be done locally. They still have to go to Thibodaux on Mondays for court appearances.”
The drug court is a long-term, merit-based program that specializes in moral reconation therapy. Clients learn to overcome the corrupt drug and criminal culture and relearn who they are, their place in the world and a different way of thinking more in tune with mainstream society, according to Duplechin.
The program is a post-adjudication court, meaning offenders can’t get in unless they accept responsibility for their offense. Only nonviolent, first-time drug offenders are given drug treatment court as an option.
There are currently 14 clients handled by the Cut Off clinic, but it is designed to service between 25 and 30.
Drug court counselor and Cut Off native Erin Ducet runs the clinic, which is open Tuesday through Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m. On Mondays and Fridays, she is in Thibodaux for court and staff meetings, respectively.
“I have an open-door policy,” she insisted. “If I’m not busy, clients are more than welcome to drop by, which they have.”
Ducet graduated from Tulane University in May with a master’s degree in social work. Previously, she was assistant director of the Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Thibodaux, conducting crisis counseling and coaching parenting skills.
“The work is very different and very challenging, but I enjoy it,” Ducet said. “It’s totally unlike what I did before, which is what I wanted.”
The first-time drug counselor is quickly learning just how engrained the drug culture in lower Lafourche is.
“The more clients who are coming to the clinic, the more I learn how prevalent it is down here – from Larose on down,” she admitted. “The level of addiction is the result of years of abuse. We have a lot of drug issues.”
Alcohol and marijuana are the most frequently abused drugs among Ducet’s clients, but she also has clients heavily involved with opiates, methamphetamine and cocaine – powder and crack forms.
She and Duplechin attributed the drug problem in lower Lafourche to well-paid employees who can afford to buy drugs and boats that carry drugs freely traveling in and out of the area.
Those ordered to participate face hard work over several months, according to Duplechin.
The shortest amount of time a client can get out is 16 months, but it typically takes 24 months to graduate, he said. Some participants can take anywhere from three to five years to complete all the drug court stipulations.
“This is merit-based, so you get out when you earn out,” Duplechin explained. “Some commit themselves early to recovery and, for some, the monster’s still got them. They are not ready to admit that they are powerless against drugs and submit to embracing treatment.
“It’s a lifelong struggle to stay sober and straight, but all the research says the longer you are in treatment, the better the outcomes,” he added.
The drug court does not plan to open any more clinics anytime soon. However, Duplechin said juvenile services could be brought to lower Lafourche one day.
The drug court already has a juvenile outreach clinic at the Lafourche Parish School Board Media Center in Lockport where counselors see underage clients every Thursday.
For now, the drug court team is just thankful to the sheriff’s office and parish officials who have been generous enough to give them space for their new clinic.
“They know the value of the drug courts and they know that drug courts work,” Duplechin said. “It works because it’s court-ordered and monitored treatment. It’s coercive treatment, but coerced treatment works just as well or better than voluntary treatment for people who are not initially motivated.”
The Lafourche Parish Drug Treatment Court team celebrates the opening of its new adult treatment clinic in Cut Off. Pictured from left are counselor Erin Ducet, parish administrator Crystal Chaisson, treatment director Elrick Nelson, court administrator Fred Duplechin, office manager Roxanne Ledet and case supervisor Tara Coleman. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
