Drug courts in focus as meth use climbs  

With only three drug treatment courts in the country, experts are meeting in Auckland to explore how these specialist courts can save money, support recovery and reduce reoffending, particularly at a time of escalating meth-related harm.

Latest Ministry of Justice figures show people who complete the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court reoffend far less than comparable high-risk, high-needs offenders in the District Court: 50 percent less in their first year after finishing the court programme. This reduction continues at four years, with 20 percent lower reoffending rates.

Judges, policymakers, researchers, treatment providers, and people who have experienced the drug treatment courts first-hand will discuss cutting-edge research and the human and monetary value of the courts at the Alcohol and Other Drug Court Conference on 4 and 5 December at the University of Auckland.

Senior law lecturer Dr Katherine Doolin says many New Zealanders are at a geographical disadvantage when it comes to accessing drug treatment courts, with the country's three courts all in the North Island: Waitākere, Auckland Central and Hamilton. 

"Based on a model that's been extensively evaluated internationally, New Zealand's drug treatment courts have shown they can reduce reoffending, support long-term recovery and improve wellbeing for participants and their whānau," says Doolin.

"With methamphetamine use continuing to rise, it's timely to strengthen, develop and expand these courts so more communities can benefit."  

The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court, which began in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2012, provides pathways for people facing prison for offending fuelled by substance use to remain in the community to deal with their underlying issues. The results of this challenging work can be transformational.  

The 300th graduate of the alcohol and other drug treatment court, Melanie Rauth, can vouch for that. Rauth, who works as the Team Lead (alcohol and other drug) Support Worker at Auckland City Mission, faced several charges, including burglary offences, possession of methamphetamine, and driving while disqualified.   

The drug court programme gave Rauth access to wraparound support services to help her tackle the underlying issues fuelling her offending. She was able to deal with her substance misuse, including through recovery meetings and peer support groups. Now, she’s giving back to others who face similar challenges. 

“What the drug treatment court gave me was a chance, a chance to rewrite my story. Stepping into the courtroom of the AODT Court is so different to a normal court; they talk with you, not at you, they hear you, they listen. They treated me like a human being.  

“I’ve been to jail numerous times. It changed me, and not in a good way. When I decided to apply for the drug treatment court, I was ready for change. I didn't want jail to be part of my future," says Rauth.

“Now, I’m contributing to a society that I once took so much from. And my beautiful daughter is back in my life. I show up, I'm consistent, and she trusts me. I think that's the biggest gift of all - having her forgive me for not being there for years of her life.” 

It was the quality of the AODT Court system in New Zealand that inspired US treatment court expert Dr Shannon Carey to feature local court sessions and meetings in her US court trainings to demonstrate best practices.  

This was a full-circle moment: Carey provided consulting and training for the setup of New Zealand's drug treatment courts based on best practices and research from the US.  

Carey, who specialises in treatment court cost analyses, says that when drug treatment courts follow established models and research-based best practices, they save money.  

"The amount of savings varies based on local factors, but for many programmes, not only do they save money due to improved participant outcomes such as fewer new arrests, fewer new court cases, less time incarcerated and less time on probation, they also result in a monetary return on investment."  

She says the value for people who attend is significant.  

"Successful participants reunite with their families, who are often estranged due to their substance use, they get jobs, enjoy better health and become a contributing member of their communities. Not only is the treatment court approach more effective than the more traditional court processing and incarceration, it’s also a vastly more humane way of treating people." 
 
The AODT Court Conference features other international experts, including trauma-informed courts’ specialist Dr Brian Meyer; former US prosecutor and probation chief Helen Harberts; Dr Doug Marlowe, a globally recognised figure in drug court research and policy; drug-testing expert Paul Cary; and addiction-recovery researcher and activist Professor David Best. 

Through his research, Professor Best has spoken with thousands of people about their experiences of recovery through drug courts.  

What their stories mostly have in common, he says, is the value of wraparound support.  

"People don't do this alone, and it starts with positive human connections – genuine caring and supportive relationships, with boundaries and rules."  

Best says drug treatment courts, with their focus on intensive, people-centred support, get outcomes that traditional courts, and even less prisons or probation services, cannot.

"Other courts are typically procedural and adversarial, and prisons in particular are often awash with drugs, offering little in the way of rehabilitative opportunities such as education and training. And where there are successes, there’s little continuity 'through the gate' to support the changes," he says.  

Meanwhile, trauma expert Dr Brian Meyer says offenders with substance misuse often have histories of trauma and need their trauma and substance misuse treated together to stop offending.  

"Data shows incarceration without treatment actually makes people with substance misuse and trauma histories worse. They’re exposed to criminals with more serious crimes who influence them negatively, so their behaviour becomes more antisocial and violent, and they reoffend more frequently."  

On the other hand, Meyer says drug treatment courts provide treatment and accountability, which results in less reoffending.  

New Zealand’s own experience is a central focus of the AODT Court conference, with discussions about why drug treatment courts work, who they are most effective for and the core elements of good practice.

Speakers will discuss what drives behavioural change, how to strengthen participant engagement, and the importance of trauma-informed approaches. 

The conference will also address the specific complexities of treating methamphetamine use, the role of drug testing in the treatment court process, and how peer support helps build sustainable recovery networks.