Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you wear a badge, sit behind a desk, or work in a factory.
That was the message from former police officer Elijah Farran, who stood before a crowded Allen County courtroom Thursday afternoon as one of 13 graduates from the 31st Judicial District Recovery Court.
The graduates celebrated their hard-earned recovery with loved ones after months — and in some cases, years — of battling substance abuse.
Graduates of the 31st Judicial District Recovery Court included Aushtin Vanveen, Timothy Busse, Elizabeth Rodriquez, Robert Walker, Elijah Farran, Garron Gean, Jacquelyn Mason, George Hannum, Anissa Nixon, Maria Mata, Ashley Webb, Michael Scott, and Derek Riley.
But it was Farran’s story that left the courtroom in silent reflection.
“I’m an extremist,” said Farran. “When I do something, I tend to take it to the extreme. I was in law enforcement for three years prior to becoming an addict. I know what y’all are thinking. ‘A bald guy with a moustache who used to be a cop — no way.’ Yes way.”
Farran, once an officer with the Iola Police Department, described how his spiral into addiction began shockingly fast.
One month after resigning from the Iola Police Department, he tried meth for the first time. “There is a saying that someone doesn’t become addicted in a day, but that wasn’t true for me,” he said. “I became instantly hooked.”
FARRAN’S FIRST attempt at rehab came in May 2021. “I didn’t want to turn 24 in a rehab facility,” he admitted, so he left after just two weeks. By October 2023, Farran was arrested for meth possession and entered Recovery Court after pleading guilty.
“To say I had a rough start would be an understatement,” he continued. “Again, I went to rehab and turned 27 while in the facility. Upon release, I went right back to using. So, I was taken into custody, returned to rehab, and lived in a sober living house in Wichita.”
It was during those three months in Wichita, Farran said, that something shifted. “Those three months were crucial in my recovery, and I’m grateful for the friendships and connections I made while there,” he said.
After returning home, Farran found employment with what he called “great people” — employers who continue to support him. “I owe my recovery to this program, the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, and the people who have supported me,” he said. “Being in recovery is the best gift you can give an addict, and due to my recovery, I can now be the best son, friend, worker, and father that I aspire to be.”
FARRAN’S STORY is far from unique. According to data from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 70.5 million Americans aged 12 and older used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs in the past year. An estimated 38.6% of those users have a drug disorder, and a stagerring 21.6% of them struggle with opioid addiction. Addiction touches all walks of life: law enforcement officers, teachers, parents, teenagers, retirees.
And the crisis is growing. In just the last year, drug use among Americans rose nearly 2%. That means nearly 1 in 6 Americans are actively using drugs today.
That’s why programs like Recovery Court exist. Not as punishment, but as a second chance.
The program, offered by the 31st Judicial District, is an intensive, court-supervised alternative to incarceration for those facing substance abuse charges. It combines strict accountability with treatment, job support, and mentorship.
