This headline cracks me up, too funny. I'm a health policy consultant that focuses mostly on mental health and substance abuse policy, and I write a behavioral health financing publication twice every week on behalf of the feds. Doing so, I've learned a bit about these programs and while my knowledge of them is not extensive (focused more on how they are financed than their day-to-day structure and operation) it's enough to know they're horribly underfunded and not prioritized. There is nothing cooler to a policy geek like me than to get to simultaneously see a program I like get a big shout out AND have it be from the guitarist of my favorite band! This is what the future of drug policy should look like in the U.S., where addiction is considered a public health rather than criminal justice issue and people are provided an opportunity to help themselves out of the hole they're in.

yeah, for those that think that these drug courts are cake, they are sorely mistaken. from what i understand, they become a VERY big part of your life. you must report daily. counseling is quite intensive. they are not for the people that get caught with an 1/8th or something like that. it is for people with very serious problems, and they get a lot of positive work done.

it sure as hell accomplishes a lot more good than throwing people in jail!!

@ZatchL said:

This headline cracks me up, too funny. I'm a health policy consultant that focuses mostly on mental health and substance abuse policy, and I write a behavioral health financing publication twice every week on behalf of the feds. Doing so, I've learned a bit about these programs and while my knowledge of them is not extensive (focused more on how they are financed than their day-to-day structure and operation) it's enough to know they're horribly underfunded and not prioritized. There is nothing cooler to a policy geek like me than to get to simultaneously see a program I like get a big shout out AND have it be from the guitarist of my favorite band! This is what the future of drug policy should look like in the U.S., where addiction is considered a public health rather than criminal justice issue and people are provided an opportunity to help themselves out of the hole they're in.

well written sir.

I am very passionate on the topic of addiction for personal reasons and I applaud Trey for his continued service. Thank you!! An inspiration to a lot of us.

way to go, trey! you're a true inspiration and we are so thankful your life was saved..here's to many more strong, happy and healthy years!

I am an attorney and was involved in the starting of a family drug court in my county for parents with substance abuse problems who face losing their children. They were required to come to court every week, go to meetings and therapy on a daily basis as well as take random drug screens. It was a lot of work for my clients but if they did the work then the program changed their lives. It also provided services for their children to deal with their parents addiction and try and prevent the same outcome for them. Drug court is a wonderful program and i think it is great Trey was there to speak and support the program. Now i heard martin sheen was making negative remarks about public defenders which is bullshit. It is the public defenders who get their clients into drug court and support them through the program.

What a class act Trey is for giving back to the program that helped turn his life around, and a program that gets great results. He continues to be an inspiration, and demonstrates an enviable combination of strength and humility.

I'm all for drug courts, and public defenders.

Also, Trey rocks.

As someone who has spent an extended time under the lock and key of the D.O.C., I am very familiar with drug court, among other types of courts. I have seen it help people who are truly ready to make a life change. It is good as I have changed my life style, and learned to love Phish more, to see Trey change his life and speak for those who take the long road, but make it out.
When I was imprisoned, I lost everything I had. TV, stereos, clothes, car. But when I got out, my music collection was waiting. After a loooong absense of my favorite music- hearing it again, made it worth that much more to me. I relived some of my favorite shows, in listening to them. The difference- it became more about the music, the emotion.
I wondered, being sober, and living a new healthy lifestyle, if I would ever get to see live music again. I feared if I didn't at least try it out, sober and all, that I would never feel the love and vibe I once felt. I feared life would pass me by and I would regret not seeing live music.
But how? Drinking was my life, and I grew up drinking in almost every social situation. Sobriety was new, and would I be able to stay sober if I went to a show? How would I handle, this very social affair without some crutch?
After released from parole, Phish announced their getting back together. A lot of their hiatus, I was behind bars. This announcement came at just the right time. To me, it was a sign. I had heard the rumors, Phish may be getting back together, and I told myself, if they do, that would be my first show sober. And it was. There was a lot of emotion. I had the support of a couple of my good friends, I had let down and hurt with my drinking. It was very hard not drinking, but was soooo exhilirating. I will not miss seeing summer Phish.
Knowing my music was out there waiting for me, kept me going when I was locked up. I love my family, my children, but music is the soundtrack of life, for me. It inspired me then, and continues to inspire me now. There were many days behind bars where all I had, were the conversations from home, the letters from home, and I always thought of this: "I took a moment from my day, and wrapped it up in things you say. I mailed it off to your address, youll get it pretty soon unless..."
Thanks to Trey for speaking on our behalf, and thanks to Phish for giving an old retired drunk, ( who may be a little lost in this world) a place that he can still call home.

This is great! Go Trey!

My sister works in Drug Court in Lacrosse. She backs up its successes and said that its best quality is that it places the onus on the addict, and not on the circumstances that got the addict arrested. Addicts need excuses, and drug court doesn't give them or allow any. If the offenders fail the program, it's usually crystal clear to them why that happened. To me, its success is plainly and clearly obvious through Trey Anastasio. You're talking about a guy whose job entails playing free-form, original music in front of 15,000 + fans every day. Fans who expect and demand originality, as well as flawless performances. Fans who continually blow smoke, exhibit intoxication openly, and incessantly provide temptations at every turn. And not to mention he has to play songs, many of which were probably created while under the influence himself, with 3 other guys with whom he knows everything about and who have also probably used a drug or two with him. I applaud the hell out of him. It takes a strong man to reverse that cycle, and you can see it on his face that he's stronger for this experience. There's no doubt to me why he feels so strongly about this program, and why it needs to be the first method in offering a truly "correctional" experience in our "correctional" system.

im so glad to see trey sober and healthy. i dont know wat i would do if i didnt have phish shows to look forward to anymore. they just do it for me

Very cool, Trey!! We love you!

Great speaker. Having had problems in my past as well, I can really appreciate what drug courts are doing for people. It's an enormous step in stopping the War on Drugs aka "The war on US citizens". Having Trey as a spokesman for the cause is a tremendous asset. Look what happened. They got back together and have really been evolving into something special. Probably saved his life too. After loosing Jerry, I honestly don't know what I would do if we had lost Trey (or even any of the band).