Carbon County officials spoke out about the benefit of the county’s drug treatment court.

On Wednesday, five participants became the first graduating class of the specialized court, which began two years ago.

The court provides an alternative to incarceration through an intensive weekly program that helps individuals with drug and alcohol problems get the treatment they need.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who spoke at the graduation, said Thursday that the program really does work and commended Richmond Parsons, chief adult probation officer; and Judge Joseph J. Matika for their efforts into making this treatment court successful.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the presentations each graduate did showed that this program saved at least two lives.

“They had some really good stories,” he said, adding that it is important to have specialized programs like this to keep people out of the jail system and getting the help they need to turn their lives around.

He said this graduation should be an incentive for others in drug court.

“There is help out there and you can turn your life around,” Nothstein said.

The five graduates completed at minimum of 18 months in the program, which included completing drug treatment and community service, attending mandatory recovery meetings and participating nightly curfews and twice-a-week urine screenings.

Overall, the graduates maintained a combined 3,807 days of sobriety.