NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders recently delivered a motivational speech at the Justice A.A. Birch Courthouse for the Davidson County General Sessions "Drug Court" graduation.
Former Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders recently delivered a motivational speech at the Justice A.A. Birch Courthouse for the Davidson County General Sessions âDrug Courtâ graduation.
The Drug Court program, initiated in 2003 by a concept that brought national approval at the local criminal court level, is offered to certain drug abusers who have been arrested for nonviolent offenses and want help with their addictions. The program is a three-phase supervised rehabilitation that lasts for 12 to 18 months and allows participants to use the program as an alternative for jail time.
"It's very important. It is one of the most important things that we have. Most people start breaking the law because they get addicted to some kind of drug. They're not intentionally trying to be a bad member of society," said General Sessions Court Presiding Judge Rachel Bell. "When people get addicted to a drug it takes over their mind, takes over their will, takes over their motivation. These programs are impeccable and very, very important for our community."
The ceremony began with program founder and Judge Casey Moreland introducing many elected officials in attendance, including District Attorney General Glenn Funk and State Senator Thelma Harper. After the introductions, a photo slideshow highlighted the journeys of the eight graduates and gave reason as to why this program is needed in the court system.
As Sanders took the podium, still in awe from the amazing milestones the graduates accomplished, he presented an enthusiastic speech full of emotion and ambition.
"I just wanted to come out here and encourage people that regardless of what has happened in your life you can overcome," he said. "This is a graduation for people that were addicted to drugs and I wanted to come out and tell them that the sky is the limit and it doesn't matter what your past is…it determines what your future is."
Following Sanders' speech, each graduate was honored for their completion of the program and received a Bible, certificate of achievement and a sobriety coin. Their families looked on with tears of joy and reassurance.
"It's very important because you have people that are addicted to substances but don't really get the help that they need," said Sanders. "What we do is we tell them what they need to do, but we don't show them how to do it and I think this program really shows them how to do it and be successful in life."
Please click here for more information about the Drug Court program.
