Drug Court graduates credit family support for recovery

Capitol Rally Day Steele Waseca Drug Court welcomes supporters to join the Treatment Court Capitol Rally Day in St. Paul. WHEN: 1:30-3:30 p.m. May 7 WHERE: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda The rally will include a keynote address from Third District Chief Judge Joseph Bueltel. b81caf6d-0e5c-4798-8dad-a7256cad2547

No two stories of addiction and recovery are the same.

And yet, as Stephanie Jimenez Ruiz and Darin Waldhauser shared their experiences at their final session of Drug Court, an inescapable similarity emerged — the role their families played in recovery.

Steele Waseca Drug Court held a commencement Wednesday in Steele County for Ruiz and Waldhauser, celebrating their completion of the program.

Stephanie Jimenez Ruiz

Ruiz entered the program in December 2021, participating for two years and four months. By completing the program, she avoided a year of jail time. The court recognized her for 860 days of sobriety.

Presiding over the commencement, Judge Jospeh Bueltel said Ruiz was in a “scary spot” when she entered the program, but had worked hard to get out of it, demonstrating responsibility and commitment to her family.

Drug Court Coordinator Nicole Grams said Ruiz has “taken a leadership role” in her family since entering the program.

Ruiz told the People’s Press that being a mother motivated her to change her life. She’s begun attending classes to be a recovery coach, and hopes to support mothers who are struggling with substance abuse as she did.

“It’s hard when you have kids involved. It’s just so hard to open up about it, because you’re ashamed that you were using,” said Ruiz.

Her children Carter and Sophia were in attendance, as well as her father George and boyfriend Brandon.

“Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter,” George said to the drug court team.

Social worker Amanda Halvorson, who was also there to support Ruiz, expressed excitement at how far she’d come, and commended her for handling challenges with grace.

“You deserve peace and love,” said Halvorson.

In a letter she read to the gathering, Ruiz thanked the drug court team for believing in her, and shared her gratitude for the “healthy, sober, loving life” she now lives. She pointed to her family and her church as the two key influences in her recovery.

Darin Waldhauser

Waldhauser entered drug court in October 2022, completing the program in the minimum 18 months. He avoided a sentence of 32.5 months, and would still be in prison today if not for drug court. He celebrated 266 days of sobriety on Wednesday.

“This guy works like a dog. Almost too hard,” said Bueltel, remarking on how dedicated Waldhauser was to the program.

Waldhauser said his trouble with substance abuse took off in the wake of a crime that “tore his family apart.” He relocated to Colorado for a time, isolating himself and falling into addiction. He pointed to his mother Janelle as his biggest supporter.

She told the People’s Press she was “so grateful” for the change she’s seen in him since then.

“He was in jail, and the calls I got from him wanting to bail him out — it was hard. To see him go through this and get through it so fast, I’m very, very proud,” she said.

Waldhauser said he was determined to get through the program as fast as possible, even as he faced outside challenges like a car accident.

He said stable employment and the support of his peers in drug court were crucial to his success.

“A lot of the guys and girls would get together and help each other out. It would be like a social network. Because we’re all going through the same stuff together, so we’d go to AA together, be in outpatient treatment together. Without that social network, it’s almost impossible to stay sober,” said Waldhauser.

In addition to his mother and his son Logan, Waldhauser’s guests at the commencement included his peers John McCollum and John Larson.

“I don’t know where I’d be without you,” McCollum told him.

His goals for the coming years include taking an annual vacation with his family and being the best dad he can be.

Highlighting the achievement Ruiz and Waldhauser have made, Defense Attorney Scott Cody called drug court “probation times 1,000,” noting he has clients who choose jail time over the program.

“It’s not easy. It’s probably the most difficult thing you’re going to do, and you’ve done it,” he said.

Ruiz and Waldhauser are the 105th and 106th graduates of Steele Waseca Drug Court.