Drug-court grads take advantage of second chance

Jan 28, 2020 at 8:40 PM

MIDDLETOWN - Lawrence Blair, an Army and Air Force veteran, kicked his decades-long PCP addiction and now has a prosperous career with the Bronx Veterans Affairs office.

Living on North Street in Middletown more than a year ago, the 62-year-old was arrested for shoplifting at the Walmart in the Town of Wallkill. When faced with the possibility of going to jail, a place he had been before, Blair chose to participate in the City of Middletown’s Drug Court program instead.

“I want to achieve something and accomplish something in my life,” Blair said.

Four drug-court graduates participated and ultimately completed a one-year treatment plan to receive help for drug dependency, instead of serving jail time for crimes for which they were arrested. To celebrate their milestone, the drug court hosted a graduation Tuesday.

Blair’s addiction started at 13 years old. He said he was sober while serving in the armed forces, but he still struggled with addiction. But he is now almost a year sober and living in Peekskill.

Those who shared their stories Tuesday gave insight into addiction as a disease, and how it not only affected them but also their loved ones.

Elizabeth Steinman, 26, entered drug court homeless and disconnected from her family, including her 9-year-old daughter. She is now more than 500 days sober, living in Albany where she has a career and finishing treatment.

Her success did not come without a struggle. She went to five different rehabilitation facilities before finally landing in the one that helped her.

“I never thought I would get clean. I always thought my way out would be to overdose, and I was OK with that,” Steinman said. “I was OK with leaving my daughter behind because I thought she would be OK without me.”

But she said Middletown City Judge Steven Brockett and case manager Melissa Ortquist saw something in her and pushed her in the right direction.

Ortquist spoke as Steinman graduated Tuesday, noting that Steinman overcame great trauma to succeed in drug court and to get herself out of an area that was toxic to her recovery.

“You were determined, and you give people hope,” Ortquist said.

Steinman and Blair have now dedicated their lives to guiding others onto a path of sobriety.

rettlinger@th-record.com