Alcohol & Drug Services

Chemical dependence is a primary disease that manifests itself in chronic, progressive, negative consequences for the offender, their family, and the community. For personal and community safety, alcohol use is acceptable only when used responsibly, by people of legal age or when the risk of adverse consequences is low or non-existent. There is no tolerance for impaired driving in this community. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are to be used only for the purposes for which they were intended, and illegal drugs are not to be used at all.

When people misuse or abuse drugs (which includes alcohol), proper early intervention by LADS can be an effective strategy and tool for countering the negative cost to this community for such behavior by offenders. Therefore, it is the purpose of LADS to provide the appropriate type of substance abuse intervention, education, referral to treatment, and case management to eligible court offenders in need of such services and in lieu of criminal detention.

Our program stresses the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions. Our staff provides a caring and non-confrontational approach to behavior changes by encouraging our clients to take an honest look at their actions.

Reducing alcohol and drug related criminal activity and providing knowledge for making better lifestyle choices promotes public and personal safety.

The LADS program operates under the authority of IC 12-23-14, and is state certified as a court administered substance abuse assessment, education, case management, and referral agency by the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS). The LADS program accepts referrals from all courts in La Porte County, attorney referrals, and referrals from other counties and states.

Residents of La Porte County may be served by LADS if they are referred from any court, prosecutor, attorney of an offender with a pending legal charge, community corrections, or probation department within La Porte County or the state of Indiana. Referrals from out-of-state will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

LADS provides two levels of substance abuse (SA) education courses for its clients. The client will be assigned to either a Level I SA Information Curriculum or a Level II Basic SA Education Curriculum. Each course has been approved by IOCS for use with program clients. Program staff and contracted employees instruct both types of courses. A description of each program is as follows:

1. The Substance Abuse Informational Program (Level I) is an eight (8) hour class that is a cognitive-based curriculum, documented by research and includes a self-assessment module. The curriculum used is ether the Prime for Life – Indiana model or the Alcohol and Drug Flex Modules.

2. The Basic Information Program (Level II) is a sixteen (16) hour class that is a research-documented, cognitive-based curriculum, also containing a self-assessment module. This course is designed primarily for substance abusers with some symptoms indicating a progression toward dependence. The curriculum used is the Prime for Life – Indiana model.

LADS also provides a Basic Marijuana Education Class for offenders who are found to be using marijuana while under court supervision and for those clients showing a need for such education.