Cases Won – Drug Addiction Relapse, Heroin Overdose (JNe)

RESULTS:  Revocation Beat!  Client Released!   The judge found Sydne’s treatment-based ATR more appropriate than revocation for substance abuse violations.

Violations: Drug Addiction Relapse Resulting in Heroin Overdose.  Client overdosed on heroin while on probation for an armed burglary case. Police found Client unresponsive, lying on the ground next to a vehicle he had driven without a valid license. A bag of syringes, a small spoon and lighter (used to cook the heroin) were found inside his vehicle. After officers revived Client with Narcan, Client lied and told police this was not a heroin overdose and that the needles they found were for a type of diabetes he had. Client later admitted he purchased a $20 bag of heroin.

Client already had three ATRs in the past for probation violations. This time, Client’s agent filed papers to revoke him and told Client he put himself in this situation. At the revocation hearing, Sydne argued that Client had not been given a real opportunity to change with prior ATRs because none were treatment-based. Sydne used her clinical background and experience working with clients struggling with drug dependency – addiction to draft a comprehensive treatment plan with ongoing relapse prevention components. The ALJ ruled against revoking Client’s probation and ordered his release to participate in the treatment-based ATR Sydne had proposed.