Horry County Drug Court guides clients to new life

Melissa Bessent was one of five participants to mark the fifth anniversary of Horry County's Drug Court by becoming the program's most recent graduates on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old credits the program with helping her change her life from 10 years of drug dependency to being a cosmetology graduate with a full-time job. She also has mended several family relationships, including those with her three children.

"It makes you or breaks you," Bessent said before she graduated from the intensive court-supervised treatment alternative to prison for nonviolent, drug-addicted offenders.

"I made the decision to use drugs, and unfortunately it comes with consequences," she said.

Bessent and the four other graduates, who declined to be identified, joined 62 previous graduates of the program and became inspiration for the 54 active clients now participating, said Horry County Probate Judge Deirdre Edmonds, who presides over the cases.

The court, which operates at no cost to taxpayers, has saved the state more than $3 million by keeping the clients out of jail, she said. Most of those involved, including Edmonds, volunteer their time, she said.

The program, which began in August 2005, celebrated its first three graduates in May 2007.

Of its 67 graduates, three have since been convicted of felonies, including two who were jailed for their offenses, said Candy DeBusk, drug court coordinator.

Edward Jenkins was one of the first three graduates, and on Wednesday he encouraged the current graduates and participants.

"This is one of the best programs anybody could ever want to get in, especially if you want to do something different with your life," Jenkins said. "You've got to put your best foot forward. You've got to put your all into this program if you want to get the best out of it and don't cheat yourself."

Participants must make a court appearance once a week, attend treatment three times a week, attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, submit to curfews, permit random drug screenings and maintain a job, DeBusk said.

"All of you can end up in those seats one day," Edmonds said to the program's current participants as she pointed to the five graduates. "It's up to you to make the decision to end up here."

Michael Hillman told the group he watched Bessent change her life with the program.

"She's one of the bravest women I've met in a long time," Hillman said. "This is a good chance to start your life over again."

Candice Lively, the assistant solicitor assigned to prosecute Bessent for having drugs in her system when she gave birth to her son, said she took a chance on the woman.

"As a prosecutor this was a tough case," Lively said. "If I put this girl in this program and she makes it, this child is going to have a mother."

Lively turned toward Bessent and continued: "She's beautiful and she made it. She's got a future, and it just makes me believe in this program."