MATTHEW COURTER/Sun-Gazette State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Brobson speaks to an audience that successfully completed the county’s treatment court.

The battle against addiction can be a fierce one, wrought with battled demons and setbacks, but as has been shown time and time again, it is a battle that the human spirit is more than capable of winning.

That spirit was celebrated as the Lycoming County Treatment Court held a special graduation ceremony to coincide with national treatment court month May 21, at the First Methodist Church, 604 Market St.

Several dignitaries were on-hand to offer their support to those in recovery, including Lycoming County President Judge Nancy Butts, Deputy Chief Public Defender Matthew Welickovitch, Lycoming County Judge Ryan Gardner, District Judge Gary Whiteman, Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina, State Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport and state Supreme Court Justice P. Kevin Brobson.

In her remarks, Butts stressed the need for expanded cooperation between law enforcement and the treatment court system.

“One of the things I have experienced in my time doing DUI court is that a number of people who have graduated have honored the individual trooper who has arrested them, because they’ve saved their life and they’ve made such a meaningful opportunity for them that they’ve even invited them to graduation ceremonies,” she said.

“It’s really important to bring that information to the state and hopefully educate them about what drug courts are, and build that better bridge with law enforcement, so that they understand the purpose, and maybe through the process of education, get more buy in from law enforcement to understand that we’re not just punishing that behavior, but we’re trying to address recovery issues so that there are no more future arrests,” Butts said.

“You’re all extremely fortunate to be pursuing a recovery in Lycoming County,” Brobson, himself a native of the county, said.

Lycoming County has one of our strongest treatment courts in the state,” the Montoursville grad said.

“Graduations are always special. This one carries a different kind of significance. This isn’t just about completing a program. It’s about choosing to face hard truths and doing the work and building a new path forward one step at a time,” he said.

“Our graduates have faced difficult challenges in their lives, but they’ve taken on those challenges. They made the decision, the hard decision, to change the course of their lives, and they stayed committed during the good times and the hard ones,” Brobson said, commending the treatment team and loved ones of the graduates for their much needed support throughout the recovery process.

“Now we’re here, sharing this moment with them. Watching them stand on a mountain of success, which they once believed was impossible, and today, they don’t just graduate from a court program or take another step in their recovery. They’ve grown from it, and they’ve grown through it,” he said, adding that though the path to recovery does not end with graduation, they have all proven that they have what it takes to continue the process.

“All of us are here, rooting for you. To the treatment court team, the success of these graduates is your success. You’ve led by example. You’ve brought them through some of life’s greatest challenges, and together, you’ve added important chapters in the story of your lives, moments which now provide hope for those who are still struggling,” Brobson said.

“Each of these graduates came to this program willing to give up themselves and to stumble and this treatment court was here to lift them up, one by one. You’ve stood together as a reminder to our graduates past and present that truly, no one walks this path of recovery alone,” he said.

“As a father and a judge, I’ve had many opportunities to remind folks that life rarely goes as planned, but amid life’s greatest challenges, where you’ve had the occasion to choose triumph over tragedy, walk the road less traveled, you change the trajectory of your lives, and today, we celebrate that you’ve done it together,” Brobson said.

“As you go forward, you’re going to write the next chapter in your recovery and your lives. And while the storyline will no doubt change, the one constant will be the core of who you have become and the team that supported you in those difficult moments along the way. Years from now, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come, and I hope you will always remember the significance of your story and the people who’ve helped you along the way. Together, you’ve earned this,” he said.