Words Matter

Chris McKlarney, County Administrator for Giles County, said it best: “Words Matter.”

Words Matter. The difference between the words “recovery court” and “drug court” holds a lot of weight with those in the recovery ecosystem. One raises people up; one holds them down. Virginia Delegate Jason Ballard introduced a bill that would change the name of the Drug Treatment Court Act to the Recovery Court Act. 

Words matter. Before the sun even thought about coming up, the words heard shouted from across a dark parking lot were, “Road Trip!” In a previous career, Walter Midkiff, Community Accountability Coordinator for the NRVRC, took 12 groups of 4th graders to Jamestown and Richmond over 12 years. On a cold January day this year, he took a group of adults. The looks of awe and wonder were the same. The significance was worlds apart. This adult group was on a mission. A mission for change. For far too long, the stigma of drug use has hung over their heads. Today they took the first steps to remove that stigma.

Words matter. This 4 am start to drive 4 hours to the Capitol Building was not about parading former drug users.This trip was with human beings bonded together in their commitment to recovery and community.

Words matter. Words matter so much that this nervous group found the courage to stand up and speak to the General Assembly Criminal Law subcommittee. None of them had ever spoken in public before today. Words matter so much, their lack of experience wasn't going to stop them.

Words matter. Numbers matter too. Ten individuals stood up and spoke in favor of this bill. Zero people spoke against it. Eight delegates voted in favor of the name change. Zero delegates voted against it. The bill was approved unanimously by the House of Delegates and moves to the Senate this week.

Words matter. Walter Midkiff also shared powerful words, “Drug court is punishment. Recovery court is helping. Drug court is holding people down. Recovery court is lifting people up.”

Words Matter.