It's been four years since Judge Robert Lane started drug court to help Pahrump deal with an ever-increasing epidemic of illegal substance abuse, and although that's not very long, the program has already helped to turn many lives around.

The program, which is completely voluntary and an alternative to serving in jail for those who are eligible, has so far had 100 participants and 63 graduates.

Twenty of the participants have received their general education degrees (GED), and two have obtained their commercial driver licenses.

Befitting a program that's all about a fresh start and new beginning in life, eight babies have been born in the program, and there are two more on the way. Although participants in the program can choose to enter it as an alternative to jail, the program itself is rigorous.

"The first few months they don't like us at all," Scarlett Patrick, specialty court coordinator said. "It's hard on a lot of people because they're not used to that level of discipline."

People in the program find themselves on a short leash during the first phase of the one- to three-year program.

They are required to have three urine analysis tests for drugs every week, go to three counseling sessions provided by Nye County Counseling and obey a curfew.

In addition, they must report to a drug court administrator every day and report to court at 8:30 a.m. Monday mornings.

The curfews are enforced by drug court workers like Gerald "Bear" Smith, Lane's bailiff, who are likely to stop by unannounced at a participant's workplace or home.

Since the program is voluntary, the participants sign a waiver that allows drug court administrators to search the participant's home or order a drug test as deemed necessary.

For women in the program, Patrick herself might come along on the weekly visits.

Smith and Patrick also go to bars to make sure that participants aren't drinking, either, since alcohol is considered a mind-altering drug.

Under the supervision of a parole officer, a participant can find himself locked up again if they get a "dirty," but drug court is more than willing to offer a second chance.

Repeated transgressions, however, such as multiple dirties or missed counseling sessions, can result in getting kicked out of the program.

Additional sanctions include essays, jail or community service.

People who are doing well within the program are rewarded with "kudos," which range from candy to meal gift certificates or haircuts to peer recognition.

If the participant graduates to the second phase of the program, they find themselves with a slightly longer curfew, two drug tests a week, and two counseling sessions.

The third phase, which participants enter usually after six to eight months, includes one counseling session per week, one random drug test, and a status hearing every three weeks.

The point of the program is get drug addicts and users used to a regular schedule and set them up with a routine that can help them to be productive.

"We teach them how to get up and show up for a job," Patrick said. "We keep them very busy."

Job placement plays a big role in the program, with many employers actually eager to employ participants because they have a confirmed guarantee that the employee will not be using drugs.

Generally people graduate from the program after the third phase, usually about a year or year and a half after they first enroll in the program.

However, recently a fourth phase has been added for those who may have gone through the motions and graduated, but at the same time the judge still feels they need some more time in the program.

"Usually when people get it, there's a change in their life," Patrick explained. "In their house, their friends."

For those who seem likely to slip back into their old ways, however, they're given more time with counseling, come in once a month, and touch base with supervisors.

"It's mostly they still haven't gotten it," Patrick said. "They need a little more time in the system."

Another change in the program is that although participants used to automatically graduate after a set period of time, now graduation depends on whether or not court administrators deem them ready for it.

"We're learning as we grow," Patrick said.

The program has about 25 to 50 people consistently, although it has the ability to accommodate possibly up to 80.

Since participants in the program aren't allowed to associate with other drug users, sometimes their girlfriends, boyfriends, or friends ask to join with them.

Other people walk in off the street and ask to join, sometimes as a result of an ultimatum given to them by a loved one.

One benefit to the program is that it saves the county and the state money on adjudication and court proceedings.

But it still costs money to run, so participants have to pay $30 a week to help cover the cost of drug kits and counseling.

In addition, the Legislature also helps fund the program, and the county helps out with indirect costs such as use of buildings.

Community support is vital to the success of the program, especially in the form of donations for kudos or employing participants.

"We always need help in different ways," Patrick said.

That can range from donating bikes to participants who can't drive or don't have a license to making donations to help alleviate the cost of the program.

Additionally, items to be donated for fundraising activities, such as auction items, and drawing prizes, are also welcome.

Given the success of drug court, the court is currently looking into starting up another specialty court designed to help families as a whole.

Although still in very preliminary stages, the court would help people with domestic violence issues or families where drug use is prevalent by various family members, including parents.

As Patrick described it, the court is going to be set up so "the whole family can heal at once."