Walt Merrell elected president of drug court association

Last week, District Attorney Walt Merrell was elected to serve as president of the Alabama Association of Drug Court Professionals (AADCP). Merrell, who has served on the State Board for the Association for three years, also serves as the prosecutor within Covington County’s Treatment Courts.

“I’ve spent my entire career fighting addiction’s consequences. Whether it be at Crossover Ministry or in the courtroom, I see addiction and its wrath at every turn. To be elected by all of the people in the trenches fighting with me to serve as their president is truly an honor.”

Merrell is in his third term as District Attorney here in Covington County, where he is also a founding member of Crossover Ministry, a faith-based residential recovery center in Opp. “I’ve been volunteering there for 22 years now. Some of my best friends are graduates of Crossover. Some of my best friends are in recovery.”

Merrell said his desire to help those struggling with addiction is a personal matter. “I’ve seen up close what addiction does. Growing up, my family was ravaged by addiction. Good people make bad decisions sometimes. Then, addiction robs them of hope. I just want to help them find hope through sobriety.”

Sabrina Cobb, Covington County’s Drug Court Coordinator, has worked closely with Merrell through the years. “Time and time again, the leadership of AADCP have recognized Walt’s compassion and dedication to the addiction recovery community and what a rare commodity that is in a DA. That dedication is shown both inside and outside the office, interweaved in every aspect of his life. I am excited to see how he can take the successes we have had in Covington County and help this Association during his term as president!”

Mia Tolbert, State Board member and Dallas County Drug Court Coordinator added, “I am honored to celebrate our new president as he steps into this vital leadership role. Treatment courts play a critical role in transforming lives, offering not just accountability, but real opportunities for change. We have an incredible opportunity to address root causes rather than relying solely on punishment, and I look forward to working alongside Walt to drive meaningful progress.”

About drug abuse here at home, Merrell said, “I’d wager that 95 percent of our crime in Covington County is drug related. Someone wants to get high; is high; is mad someone else is high; and so on. Most property crimes are by addicts who want drug money. Many of our violent crimes are committed while people are impaired. Sure, we are going to put those folks in prison when they do those kinds of things, but a treatment court’s objective is to help an addict find sobriety through accountability so that they never get to the point of stealing or hurting anyone else.”

Merrell said his election will allow him to help create more opportunities for people to find sobriety “not only here in Covington County, but around the state. Not everyone is invested in Drug Courts like we are. I hope I can help them understand that a treatment court not only holds people accountable, but it also creates pathways for them to find a clean and sober lifestyle.”