Participation in the Borderland Substance Abuse Court in 2011 avoided $405,000 in costs associated with standard jail time and other costs in Koochiching County.

Lisa Santee, drug court coordinator, district Judge Chad LeDuc and probation officer Troy Rautio met with the county board Tuesday to provide information about the program’s costs and successes.

LeDuc said that while the program is successful in reducing the lives impacted by drug and alcohol offenses, it does so in a cost efficient manner.

But even more importantly may be the impact the program has on people’s lives, the group told the board.

LeDuc grew emotional as he introduced Tanner Hanson, 20, a recent graduate of the drug court program. “It’s been one of the most pleasant experiences I have had — to watch him,” said LeDuc. “It’s been remarkable.”

Hanson told the board that he’d gotten into trouble at 18 at the Falls High School in a “bad situation” on a “bad day” and ended up in the hospital facing drug charges.

He said he wasn’t too sure that drug court was the right solution for him.

“But I haven’t’ had a slip since,” he told the board. He credited the “close eye” kept on him by Rautio as well as other measures intended to keep him accountable for his actions.

“I had to play by the rules when I never did before,” he said.

LeDuc noted that Hanson now has a full time job at a local business and is becoming a productive member of the community. “I moved out of my parent’s basement,” Hanson said laughing.

LeDuc noted that Hanson is working to establish a drug court alumni program.

And while cost avoidance is important, Santee said  Tuesday that the first goal of the program is to promote community safety and well being through reduced drunk driving and controlled substance offenses and child protection service needs.

Board Chairman Brian McBride told Hanson he was proud of him for his accomplishments and added that completing the program successfully takes a lot of hard work by participants and a firm, but fair judge and support group.

LeDuc said it’s time that drug courts stop being considered innovative and be moved into the mainstream court system because of their success. LeDuc said recent years have seen people ask to take part in the program.

And, LeDuc said, an effort to develop a juvenile drug court program is underway. However, he noted that two successful juvenile programs in the state had recently ended because of funding shifts.

“The younger we get them and the earlier the help, the better off they ultimately will be,” he said of youth with alcohol and substance abuse issues.

Support from the community, include Narcotics Anonymous and Alcohol Anonymous, have helped the drug court’s success, added LeDuc.

And, he credited the county board for helping to fund the start of the program and its continuation.

Meanwhile, Santee pointed to the recidivism rates after two years of graduation. She said 52 people have graduated from the Koochiching County drug court program since it began in 2005 and 96 percent have remained free of a new offense.

In other business Tuesday, the board agreed to provide $5,000 toward a joint effort with the city of International Falls to relocate the city’s animal holding facility.