Overview In this episode of Beyond Substance, hosts Dean Babcock and Jodi Miller explore how problem-solving courts can support recovery while maintaining accountability. Dean speaks with Zachary Miller, a deputy prosecutor with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, about Veterans Court, treatment courts, diversion programs, reentry, and the community partnerships that help people move toward stability. Jodi then shares the personal story of Aaron Shaw, an Indiana veteran whose life changed after entering Veterans Treatment Court. Together, these conversations show how recovery can grow when legal accountability is paired with treatment, peer support, trust, and people who keep showing up. A Look at the Numbers The episode’s data segment featuring Allie Martin adds important context. The segment highlights Indiana treatment court research showing reductions in drug-related emergency department visits, EMS involvement, rearrest, and mortality among treatment court participants. Professional Interview Summary Dean Babcock talks with Zachary Miller, a Deputy Prosecutor for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office’s Quality of Life Program. He also serves in Marion County’s Problem-Solving Courts as the Deputy Prosecutor for the Women’s Drug Treatment Court Program and the Re-Entry Court Program. He has been a member of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office’s Strategic Initiatives Division since November 2021. He is also a current member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Indianapolis Affiliate of NAMI Indiana. He explains how problem-solving courts differ from traditional court processes by bringing prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, treatment providers, case managers, peer support specialists, and community partners together around a shared goal: helping people move toward stability. Personal Story Summary Jodi Miller shares the story of Aaron Shaw, a veteran born and raised in Indiana. Aaron became a father in 2004, joined the military in 2005, served in Iraq from 2006 to 2007, and returned home after a 15-month deployment involving 156 combat missions. After coming home, he struggled with the loss of military connection, unemployment, drinking, prescription opioid use, heroin use, and legal consequences. TakeawaysProblem-solving courts combine accountability, treatment, supervision, and support to help address the underlying issues that may contribute to criminal justice involvement.Veterans may face specific barriers, including trauma, mental health needs, physical injuries, documentation challenges, housing instability, and difficulty trusting help.Recovery is about more than stopping substance use. It often involves rebuilding family relationships, employment, transportation, treatment, mental health care, community, and purpose.Peer support and lived experience can help people feel seen, understood, and less alone during a difficult process.Aaron’s story shows that when people are treated as human beings and given a real path forward, recovery can lead back to family, community, and service.Episode Hashtags #BeyondSubstance, #ShawnPNeal, #AdvoCast, #RecoveryIsPossible, #ProblemSolvingCourts, #VeteransCourt, #VeteransRecovery, #TreatmentCourt, #RecoverySupport, #PeerSupport, #SubstanceUseRecovery, #MentalHealthRecovery, #JusticeAndRecovery, #CommunitySupport, #RecoveryCommunity, #LivedExperience, #SecondChances, #IndianaRecovery, #AccountabilityAndSupport, #HopeInRecovery Podcast Information: Hosted by: Dean Babcock & Jodi Miller"A Look at the Numbers" Host: Allie MartinExecutive Producer: Shawn P NealProduced and Mixed at AdvoCast Leadership Advisory's Studio236Beyond Substance explores substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, public health, and the people working to build healthier communities through informed conversations and evidence-based perspectives. Topics: Substance Use, Recovery, Prevention, Public Health, Mental Health, Community Health, Healthcare, Education Hashtags: #BeyondSubstance #SubstanceUse #Recovery #RecoveryMatters #Prevention #PublicHealth #MentalHealth #CommunityHealth #Healthcare #HealthEducation
