Andrew Rathwell on his graduation day from the Drug Treatment Court on Monday at the Red Deer Court of Justice. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

'Go With the Flow'

First participant of Red Deer’s Drug Treatment Court graduates with new life

Jan 31, 2024 | 5:05 PM

It was a full courtroom on Monday at the Red Deer Court of Justice, not for trial, but for triumph. Those in the seats cried, not tears of sadness, but of joy. And the future of the man who stood at the front of the room was not filled with fear, but with freedom.

Following regular drug court proceedings, Andrew Rathwell, the first participant of Red Deer’s Drug Treatment Court Services, celebrated his graduation of the program with a standing ovation from family, friends, and those who have helped him along the way.

“I’m just one of many examples of people that just needed the tools for success in order to be successful, whereas the prison system kind of connects you with everybody that you should not connect with, and a lot of people don’t make it out of that. Drug court gives us the opportunity, before we have the potential to really mess up our lives, to turn things around,” he said.

Rathwell was facing two years of jail time for selling drugs. A few weeks before his trial date, the Drug Treatment Court began in central Alberta and took Rathwell on as their first participant. He joked that the program was so new, there wasn’t any furniture in the office and just a few employees.

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One of those employees, Trish McAllister, Program Manager for the Drug Treatment Court, shared at his graduation that not only did they build the program together, but built Rathwell back up as a human.

She joked that at the beginning, she knew he was only there to avoid jail time, as he had been there in the past. However, before heading to treatment, she remembers Rathwell throwing his old backpack away and replacing it with a new one she gave him, a symbolic representation of moving on from an old life.

“The wraparound supports, the focus on addressing all areas of a participant’s life including physical and psychological health, education/employment, and addiction/mental health supports are all reasons why Andrew was able to be successful,” she said.

Speeches were given by multiple audience members including Assistant Chief Justice Robin Snider, a police officer who previously dealt with Rathwell, program workers who find him unrecognizable, and his aunt, who broke him into tears.

To graduate, participants must complete the multi-phase program in more than one year’s time, prove abstinence from drug use, and be involved in community service.

Rathwell started the program on January 31, 2022, completing various courses like financial literacy, parenting, having fulfilling conversations, and creating friendships and boundaries, and has been sober for over 900 days.

He says the first few phases of the program focus on stability, typically moving to a treatment facility, with expanded freedoms as participants show responsibility.

The program also places emphasis on accountability, he says. While originally supposed to graduate in Spring 2023, he said he did not follow certain rules, resulting in consequences like the prolongation of the program.

“You can’t think that you can just get away with things. Realizing that your actions have consequences really helps build mindfulness around what you’re doing, especially if you know you shouldn’t be doing it,” he said, transforming his mindset on punishments as opportunities for growth.

In a graduation speech, Rathwell took the time to individually thank audience members for their help.

“There is no light at the end of the tunnel,” he said, elaborating that light is all around and inside us; if people keep chasing a certain outcome, they only place limits on their happiness.

Sharing that he still knows many people suffering from addiction, he says others can only do so much for them until they want to help themselves, and, in the meantime, should simply treat them as people. He advised those in treatment to go with the flow instead of trying to rush through it.

Previously having problems with authority, he said he now enjoys friendly conversations with RCMP officers and sees them as role models.

Throughout his journey, he also realized just how sociable he really is.

“I always thought I was a bit of an introvert but now I really like connecting with everybody within recovery, going to the anonymous programs as often as I can and building community, and networking,” he said.

He also enjoys putting himself outside his comfort zone, volunteering at the Polytechnic’s MindfulU Student Mental Health Collective to develop peer support skills and intends to join an improv workshop.

The 35-year-old is the second graduate of the program and is currently contemplating a degree in psychology or a multi-disciplinary option at Red Deer Polytechnic, with a goal of helping the mental health community as Alberta Health Services did for him.

He says he currently sits on a board who is trying to create a centre for those who have started addictions recovery to maintain their sobriety through connection and community.

Rathwell joked that he saw a psychiatrist one day after drug court after feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness and enjoys eastern philosophies of needing sorrow to balance joy.

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