30 Tulsans graduate from Drug, DUI and Veterans Treatment Court

There are 30 Tulsans who started new chapters of their life Friday after graduating from Tulsa County's Drug, DUI and Veterans treatment court programs.

The Tulsa County Alternative Court programs were designed to set people on a path to sobriety, rather than locking them up in a prison cell.

Graduates spend anywhere from 18 months to three years in the program.

Michelle Fennell says without the drug court program, she doesn't know where she'd be today, maybe even dead. She says the program helped her turn a page in her life and contribute to society in a positive way.

The graduates have battled addiction and other struggles in their life, and on Friday they got the chance to walk across the stage at OSU Tulsa, with a chance to start over.

"Being someone who was struggling right, in life. Many people knew it, I knew it myself but I didn't have the means or the strength to get into recovery," said Ulysses Allen, a graduate from the Veterans Treatment Court.

Allen says he battled addiction, was always getting into trouble, and didn't think there was anyone who could help him. He says it took him a while to accept help in treatment, but he's glad he did.

"This court really helped me create a foundation to recovery and a foundation to be the person I know I was always called to be in God's eyes," said Allen.

Many people in the programs have been homeless, unemployed or separated from their families because of their addiction.

"This program is the reason I am able to stand here before you guys today. This program gave me the tools and coping skills I needed to create a life," said Michelle Fennell.

Fennell graduated from drug court last year, and now works for the program. She says it took her awhile to realize people wanted to help her, and now she gets to help others battling the same demons.

"Just gratitude that there is a program like this. That there is a courtroom you can walk into and instead of being told you are mistake, go to prison, they are like hey maybe you have a problem, let us help you," said Fennell.