Lynn program providing help for drug addicts

LYNN – Hooked on heroin at the age of 15, arrested numerous times, and in and out of jail on drug charges, Stefan Maniscalco was on the fast track to a life of drug dependency and pain.Now 20, Maniscalco has managed to break free from the tight grip of heroin and has been drug-free for seven months.He is regaining his life and realizing his goals through the help of Drug Court at Lynn District Court.”I’ve done every drug, but heroin is what brought me down,” he said. “I was a mess. I don’t want to be like that again.”Maniscalco and fellow Drug Court enrollees met with Judge James Lamothe last week for a weekly check-in to chart their progress in the program. Lamothe has presided over Drug Court since November 2010. When he came aboard, there were 26 people enrolled in the program, which has been offered since 1999.”In the early years of the program, there were over 100 people (enrolled),” Lamothe said. “But that takes a lot of energy, resources and dedication to keep something like Drug Court going.”Lamothe is slowly pushing the program to expand, even while a dwindling budget, small staff and a lack of resources have prevented the program from applying for federal grants. There are now 40 people getting the help they need in Drug Court.”The idea is to reduce recidivism,” Lamothe said. “No one is beyond redemption. We don’t punish them for being a drug addict ? that’s why they’re here. But they need to be honest with themselves and honest with those that are here to help.”But sometimes they fail. Maniscalco said after he was arrested the first time at 16, he spent the next two years in Department of Social Services (DSS), group homes and rehab, until he ended up on probation and at a halfway house in South Boston.While there, he fell under the power of heroin again, left the halfway house and racked up several arrests. But it wasn’t until he got arrested in Lynn and spent some time in jail that he was referred to Drug Court.”I probably wouldn’t be clean if I wasn’t doing this (drug court),” Maniscalco said. “I have a good network of people that I hang out with that aren’t getting high and I’m living at home with my family. If you want to stay clean, you can stay clean.”Those who enter the program get set up in a residential program and go through three phases of growth, which include detox, frequent alcohol and drug testing, therapy, finding a job and relapse prevention training.Lamothe, who was previously in charge of Chelsea District Court’s Drug Court, said those steps usually take about 18 months to complete.”They come in as a drug addict and can’t see a way out,” Lamothe said. “Rather than just be supervised by probation, they have to see me, look me in the eye and tell me if they are doing what they’re supposed to do. Some people start the program, relapse and have to start over, but they have to keep going and not give up.”