Tulare County Drug Court graduation commencement speaker is Tim Ryan
Tim Ryan, A&E'S “Dope Man,” will be the commencement speaker at the 19th Tulare County Drug Court graduation ceremony to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Visalia Convention Center. Superior Court Judge Gary Johnson announced that over 200 Drug Court graduates will be honored in the ceremony.
Ryan is a recovering heroin addict and national thought leader on the opioid epidemic. Despite a successful business career, he became addicted to heroin and was ultimately sentenced to prison for drug-related offenses.
Ryan became clean and sober behind bars, but six months after his release, his son died of a drug overdose. Ryan is the subject of an A&E documentary “Dope Man,” and has been featured in national media including “The Steve Harvey Show with Dr. Drew,” USA Today and Newsweek.
Almost 2,500 people have graduated from Drug Court since it began in 1986. It supervises drug offenders through treatment and recovery, offering them educational and employment incentives that help them break the destructive cycles of addiction. The participants are responsible for their costs of participation including counseling and drug testing. Graduates of Drug Court have much lower rates of recidivism than those incarcerated.
Judge Johnson has presided over Drug Court for five years.
“Tulare County's program continues to be one of the most active and successful programs in the country.”
He is encouraged with the programs continued success in spite of recent changes in California law and budget restrictions.
“It works, and when people are ready to make a change in their lives, this program gives them the tools,” he said.
The Drug Court graduation is open to the public and free of charge.