Learning to Live Life in Recovery
By Csaba Sukosd | October 24, 2023

When 23-year-old Ali McEwen thinks back to being a teen, "Life was good." She has memories of spending time with her family and engaging with people at a local milkshake shop. Those fulfilling connections are a driving force in her life, again, thanks to a treatment court that gave her the chance and the resources to address her mental health and substance use.

McEwen lives in eastern Ohio along the West Virginia border and participates in the Steubenville Municipal Mental Health Court. When she was evaluated by health professionals for the program, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenic symptoms. She says she remembers feelings of anxiety and depression as a teen that were calmed by using drugs.

"I started about a month after graduating high school, and it was like a hurricane. Every drug that was around I was consuming," said McEwen.

Over the next five years, she was "overdosing more times than I can count" and in and out of jail. Her relationship with her parents and siblings suffered because of her behavior.

"I was manipulative. I would lie to anybody. I would say whatever to get what I needed to get," said McEwen.

She lost custody of her young son, Wyatt. She was convicted of drug possession. And soon, she was back in Steubenville Municipal Court for theft. She was referred to the mental health docket run by Judge John Mascio. He started the program in 2020 after he saw a pattern in many cases.

"More and more, we were getting people who were drug addicted but also had severe mental illness," said Judge Mascio.

He tries to get additional background information from defendants during regular court hearings if he detects something unusual about the offense.

"Someone with no criminal record suddenly might have multiple petty theft charges. In those instances, it's important to have discussions with people so that we can try to get them the help they need."

Judge Mascio and his staff achieved certification of the mental health court through the Supreme Court of Ohio. To become certified, a court must develop evidence-based practices, policies, and a network of community support by partnering with treatment providers and social service organizations. Each program undergoes reviews of its plan and on-site assessment.

"It's a lot of work that requires us to regularly review our materials, but that also allows us to keep up with innovations to make our program more effective for participants," said Lisa Hall, the mental health court program coordinator.

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