We support drug courts.

The programs allow those arrested for drug crimes tied to addiction to undergo treatment and work to get themselves clean to avoid jail time.

Such programs are good for the participants, helping them get their lives back on track, and good for the community, because they allow successful participants to continue working and contributing to society and because they save taxpayers on costly incarceration.

It’s hard work for the participants, getting clean, staying clean, and meeting the other rigorous requirements of the program.

That’s why, as reporter Julie Riddle recently informed us, drug court organizers like to reward success with small tokens of appreciation, such as gift cards to local businesses.

But, as Riddle also told us in the same story in The News, a cut state grant has reduced the money available for the drug court to purchase such tokens.

That’s where you come in.

If you are a local business, consider donating gift cards for your services or products. If you are not, consider donating funds to the courts so those items can be purchased.

Drug courts work, and we, as a community, need to do all we can to help make sure ours is successful.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)