East County Drug Court Graduation | How Drug Court & S.C.O.P.E. Change Lives

At the East County Drug Court Graduation, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan explained how Drug Court provides accountability, treatment, and hope for individuals struggling with substance use disorders—and celebrated a major milestone through the SCOPE program.

SCOPE (Severe Co-Occurring Pilot East) was created to serve individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders—an underserved population that often faces significant barriers to treatment. Through strong collaboration with the East County Center for Change, Action Central, and the East County Drug Court team—including DDA Joseph Fusco— participants receive individualized, specialized treatment and support.

During this graduation ceremony, the court proudly honored its first SCOPE graduate, highlighting meaningful progress toward long-term recovery, housing and employment stability, and family reunification. We were proud to honor these graduates and celebrate what’s possible when innovation, compassion, and accountability come together. This program demonstrates how collaborative justice improves lives while strengthening public safety.

Watch more in the video.