Interview with a graduate of a Drug Treatment Court programme

Jamaican-born Paulette Walker is 46 and lives in Canada. The former beauty queen and successful businesswoman was addicted to cocaine for over 20 years. In 2002, thanks to the DTC system, she started a treatment programme. Today she is drug-free.

How did you manage to finance your addiction?

I always seemed to have a man in my life who supported me and my habit. As the years went on I started shoplifting and I’m ashamed to say, with prostitution as well.

Over this 21-year period did you try to get some treatment to stop this problem?

Yes, I tried many times. I would stop on my own for six or seven months then I would try to get into programmes. But I couldn’t last longer than six months. At first I thought I can do this on my own, I don’t need treatment and it took me many years to realize that I did need treatment. Unfortunately I had to be arrested before I got into a Drug Treatment Court, but nonetheless it saved my life.

In 2002 you were sent to prison for trafficking, this is where you heard about the DTC programme. If you hadn’t been introduced to this programme, where would you be now?

Probably, dead, because that was the state of my addiction, my life. I was seriously thinking about suicide, and drinking as much as I could. I would be in a very dark place. I know that I would not be sitting here talking to you, I would probably be dead somewhere.

And the treatment process lasted nearly a year?

It had different phases—getting started, an intensive programme, maintenance. And now, even though I have graduated and have passed my probation period, I still go to groups. You have to reach that stage in your life when you have to accept you are really out of control, you really have to want the treatment. So I gave my life over to the higher power and to the court system, to my therapist and to everyone that was involved in my treatment. I figured, you know best, because I don’t know what I’m doing.

Today you are drug free—how does this feel?

I feel like a brand new woman. I’m happy, my heart is light, I have my family back and they are so proud of me. I’m proud of myself and I walk with my head up.