Presiding judge says unknown epidemic plagues Guam

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Superior Court Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena says there's an unknown epidemic that is plaguing the community.  Speaking to Rotarians this afternoon, Lamorena talked about drug addiction being a major problem on the island.  In 2002 the Adult Drug Court was created and over the last decade has helped several hundred drug users fight their addictions.  Many of the adult drug court defendants were committing other crimes to maintain their drug addiction.

"Those people are burglarizing, stealing and robbing people. Usually the underlying problem is to pay their drug addiction so our goal I to hopefully rehabilitate those individuals and prevent more addiction here on this island," he said.

Lamorena says more than 80 percent who have joined the program have graduated and remained drug free.  He believes the Therapeutic Court works because the judge is always monitoring a defendant's progress requiring continuous supervision and treatment.