Drug – Court graduates largest class of 13

PORT ANGELES — It only took six months for methamphetamine to ravage Wihinna Robideau, known to friends as “Way.”

“It was empty,” she said Thursday, dressed up for graduation and among her family.

“There was no desire for life. That’s when it started happening.”

It took more than three years for the 29-year-old hair-stylist from Port Angeles to get sober and prove to a judge that she had her life under control and should not be convicted of forgery, which brought her to the attention of law enforcement in April 2002.

Largest graduating class

On Thursday, Robideau was one of 13 recovering addicts who graduated from Clallam County Superior Drug Court, the largest graduating class since the program started in 1996.

The program was originally designed to have 30 members. Today, it has about 60.

“We have a very successful program,” said Superior Court Judge Ken Williams, the sitting judge in Drug Court.

“It doesn’t mean everyone is succeeding.”

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