COEUR d’ALENE — For a person recovering from substance use disorder, a year of sobriety is made up of countless moments of courage and resilience.
That’s how case manager Teighan Moore put it Thursday, as she gathered at the Idaho State Police District 1 office with police officers, attorneys, judges and others to celebrate a community member graduating from Idaho Law Enforcement Diversion, or ILED.
The program is a statewide coalition of local initiatives that divert low-level, nonviolent offenders into substance use treatment instead of taking them to jail. Thursday’s graduate, who has not been named publicly, is the second Kootenai County resident to complete ILED.
“Sobriety is not an easy path and it takes immense determination to overcome the challenges that come with it,” Moore told the graduate. “You have faced those challenges head on, inspiring many with your commitment to change and grow. Your journey is a beacon of hope to others who are struggling, showing them that recovery is possible and that a brighter future awaits.”
Sgt. Ron Sutton read aloud a letter from the trooper who referred the graduate to ILED one year ago.
“I just want you to know that I’m very proud of you,” the letter said in part. “You had to do a lot of hard work to get where you are today. It’s not always easy when you are struggling with addiction, but you did it. You overcame and for that, I am proud of you and happy for you and your family.”
The graduate smiled as he looked out at the room full of people who had helped him along the way.
“Thank you, everybody,” he said. “This was a great program.”
Brandi Clark, an addiction recovery coach at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, said ILED gives law enforcement another tool to combat the opioid crisis in North Idaho.
“The goal we have as a team is to see people achieve recovery,” she said.
The program has strict eligibility requirements, resulting in a small number of referrals. Those committing violent crimes and crimes involving firearms are not eligible for ILED. Trafficking, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and driving under the influence are ineligible offenses.
Participants must be adults who have no felony convictions within the past 10 years. They must not be on probation or parole. Sex offenders and individuals who are subject to a no-contact order or civil protection order are not eligible. Referrals are voluntary.
The program fills a gap in services, Clark said. Kootenai County has specialty courts offering voluntary, post-conviction programs for controlled substance offenders, but those programs are geared toward people who have a history of legal problems. ILED provides a path for low-level offenders, giving them an opportunity to get on a different path.
In Kootenai County, ISP and the Rathdrum Police Department have adopted the program. The Coeur d’Alene Police Department is also expected to join, with officers having the option to refer misdemeanor drug-related offenders to ILED.
Chief deputy city attorney Ryan Hunter said the program will affect whole communities, not just individual participants.
“This is not just a change in our graduate,” he said. “It breaks a cycle that is generational.”
Clark said it’s gratifying to see the program’s second graduation.
“It feels like such a huge victory, not only for our team but for the program moving forward,” she said. “If it helps at least one person, then we’ve done the right thing. Now we’re onto two, with more people still in the program.”
