Public Defenders Perspective On AddictionPublic Defenders Perspective On Addiction
Addict II Athlete Podcast
A public defender, a prosecutor and a recovery coach share their experiences of addiction cases, focusing on accountability, treatment options and real chances for change. The discussion looks at how courts, treatment programmes and community support can work together instead of relying only on punishment.
52:15•19 Dec 2022
Addiction on Trial: A Public Defender and Prosecutor Talk Straight
Episode Overview
- Addiction is framed by both guests as a disease that carries legal consequences, rather than simply a moral failing or a crime on its own.
- Public defenders and prosecutors can work as a team to prioritise treatment, wellness courts and community programmes instead of automatic jail time.
- Meth and fentanyl are highlighted as especially destructive, driving many non‑drug offences and demanding a tougher, more focused response than minor cannabis use.
- Relapse is described as common, making long‑term support, structured programmes and meaningful activities crucial for lasting sobriety.
- Family, peer support and recovery groups like Addict II Athlete are seen as vital in giving people a new circle that supports staying clean.
“"A person does not start using drugs intending to go to jail, but there are consequences to a person's possession."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation on Addict II Athlete brings together a tribal public defender, a tribal prosecutor and a recovery-focused host to look at addiction through the eyes of the justice system. Public defender F. Wilson Myers shares four decades of experience working with people whose drug use has landed them in court.
He stresses that, "a person does not start using drugs intending to go to jail," and talks about seeing clients as more than their charges, while still being clear that consequences and accountability matter. On the other side of the courtroom, prosecutor Stephen Mackenzie explains why he views addiction as "a disease, not a crime primarily" and why simply locking people up "does no good".
He describes looking case‑by‑case at whether rehab, wellness courts and community programmes like Addict II Athlete or Red Pines can be used instead of, or alongside, jail. You’ll hear frank discussion about methamphetamine, fentanyl, alcohol, and how drugs fuel domestic violence and other offences. Both guests talk honestly about relapse, limited treatment resources, and the frustration of seeing the same people cycle through court, while still holding onto the belief that people can change if they really want help.
Hosted by Coach Blu Robinson, the chat has a practical, no‑nonsense feel, with plenty of real‑world examples from Alabama, Wyoming and the Ute Reservation. It’s aimed at anyone affected by addiction—whether you’re in recovery, supporting a loved one, or working in law, treatment or policing—and especially those who’ve felt written off by the system.
If you’ve ever wondered what judges, defenders and prosecutors actually think about addiction, this one might challenge a few assumptions and give you hope that more people inside the courts really are on your side. What would it change for you to see the justice system as part of your support team, rather than just a punishment machine?
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