The following summary of an exchange between magistrate Mr Juan Wolffe and a first-time attendee of Drug Treatment Court is just one example of the deep-rooted issues that are brought to the forefront for clients of the programme.

Potential clients are required to sit in on four sessions before being accepted or denied a space within the programme, but even then there’s no guarantee of vacancies at one of the two dedicated treatment centres on the Island.

Magistrate Juan Wolffe (JW): How long have you been addicted?

Client (C): Since I was 18.

JW: What is your drug of choice?

C: Heroin and marijuana.

JW: When did you pick up?

C: I started drinking rum when I was four or five. My old man used to smoke cigarettes and put the butts out on the ground.

“So, you know, I used to pick them up and smoke them. I started really smoking when I was seven or something, when my uncle was growing weed.

“I used to look up to him. All the guys I looked up to were on drugs. Now the only breaks I get, the only time I’m off drugs, is when I go to jail.

JW: When did you last use?

C: About an hour and a half ago.

JW: Fair enough. How’s it been over the last few years, personally?

C: From ‘99 to now, the drugs have gone downhill. They’re not worth it because the price keeps going up, and I need more and more to get the same effect.

JW: How is that affecting your life?

C: It’s affecting my life big time. I don’t worry about anything else besides dope. When I was stealing bikes, we used to say: ‘dope first!’ I weren’t worried about family, just dope.

JW: Why do you want to get off drugs?

C: Because my life is breaking down. I’m starting to break myself down.

JW: What is your relationship with your kids like?

C: I’ve got two kids. One of them is England; he doesn’t talk to me. The other relationship is, well ... When I see him it’s all love, but I haven’t been able to support him financially.

JW: How does that feel?

C: Feels like s**t. Sometimes I wake up and ask God, ‘Why do you still have me here? Just let me die.’ When I’m on drugs, it’s like I’m no use to nobody.

JW: What are you prepared to do, starting today, to get back what you’ve lost?

C: Anything. Narcotics Anonymous meetings make me feel like getting high. Every time I go, I see all the guys I used to run with and I feel like getting high afterwards.

“Turning Point and other classes, they’re like a waste of time. I love dope. That’s it. I mean, I haven’t had a girlfriend in twelve years!

JW: Are you willing to do what’s needed to turn your life around?

C: Anything.

JW (addressing the court): I kind of know [this client]. I know he likes to speak his mind. In fact, you stole my bike.

R: [laughing] I don’t know about stole it.

JW: No, you stole it.

R: [mumbling]

JW: It’s okay. I’m over it. Let’s move on. If you choose Drug Treatment Court, this is your opportunity for you to change the path that you’re on. Sitting on this side are people from all different disciplines here to help you.

“You’ve got treatment providers, case managers, Department of Public Prosecutions, defence council, me ... We’re all here in our respective disciplines to assist you in turning your life around.

JW: We know what we’re talking about. We’ve been in this arena for a long time. But for the most part? We’re here to look out for your best interest. Here you have a team of agencies trying to assist you, but at the end of the day, it’s all about you.

“You drive this bus, we’re just the mechanics and the GPS helping you along. You have to want to erase what’s taken place. We don’t think you’re a bad person. These offences were committed because of drugs. You’re a good person who did bad things because you were addicted to drugs.

R: I cant forget my past. If I forget it, it’s going to lead me right back to where I was.

JW: You use your past as a learning tool. If you want to be here, we will welcome you with open arms, but it’s going to take a lot of commitment, the most commitment you will have had in your entire life. I’ll see you next week.