They live by the credo, “leave no Veteran behind.” These are not mere words. These are actions not on the battlefields, but in everyday life, where their fellow veterans – who vowed to fight for our nation – often struggle to survive.

These solemn words are part of the Volunteer Veteran Mentor’s Oath and represent the mission of the Douglas Country Veterans Treatment Court (DCVTC). In DCVTC, veterans battle for sobriety, while facing criminal charges that could result in their own loss of freedom; let alone their lives. The target population for the program is military veterans, who have been charged with a felony offense(s) and who are diagnosed with substance use and/or mental health issues. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 11% of US Military veterans meet the criteria for substance abuse disorder.