Raleigh County Launches Drug Court

Raleigh County has launched a new drug court in order to help addicts turn their lives around. Judge Robert A. Burnside says an increase in both violent and nonviolent crimes in the Beckley area can be traced back to drug addiction. Rather than just sending someone to jail, drug courts strive to reduce substance abuse and improve rehabilitation through treatment, periodic drug testing and community supervision. Kanawha County just held its 16th drug court graduation last week, and has a total of 94 that have made it through the program.