Dr. Bertha K. Madras, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and President George W. Bush’s “Deputy Drug Czar,” will be in Peachtree City, Georgia next Wednesday, May 30, 2007 to attend the third annual statewide Drug and DUI Court Conference entitled, “Georgia Drug Courts: Bridges to Recovery Through Accountability.”

Deputy “Drug Czar” Madras will provide welcoming remarks and a keynote address to over 400 conference attendees in official recognition of “National Drug Court Month,” which highlights the effectiveness and success of drug courts during the month of May.

Since their inception in Miami, Florida in 1989, drug courts have been developed and implemented in all 50 states and U.S. territories. There are over 1,925 drug courts nationwide as of January 2007, including 50 drug courts in the State of Georgia.

The Superior Court of the Griffin Judicial Circuit, which includes Fayette County, is working on establishing its own drug court session as officials recognized they need to be handled differently than other felony cases.