Military veterans are a sizable part of Pulaski County’s population, but its veterans treatment court could have ripple effects throughout the broader community. Dr. Natalie Tucker is the program’s coordinator. “Pulaski County has about 12,500 residents, and we have over 1,000 veterans,” Tucker says, “so you’re talking almost 10-percent of our community has served in one of the branches of the military.”
The veterans court is a way to connect those struggling with substance use disorder or mental health issues with the resources they need, while still holding them accountable.
But Dr. Tucker notes that the program is helping to tackle an issue that touches every corner of the community. “I think we all feel the strain of substance abuse,” she says. “I think it truly impacts every one of us in some way or form. This program is part – it’s not the solution, but it is a puzzle piece in trying to help our community become a more healthy and thriving place to live and work.”
The program also helps non-veterans in more direct ways. Superior Court Judge Crystal Kocher says it’s opened the door to funding for other resources, such as a clinical addictions counselor, that can be used by anyone in the justice system.
We’ll dive into the Pulaski County veterans treatment court Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT/noon CDT on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints on K99.3.
