At Porchlight Health in Cortez, those convicted of DUI are required to attend a Victim Impact Panel — a class designed to move past fines and court dates to show the real human toll of impaired driving.
Counselor Adar Higgs says the panel pairs a slideshow of local fatal crashes with personal stories from people affected by drunk or drug-impaired drivers.
“We show a pretty gruesome slideshow of different fatal crashes that have happened throughout the region, and we have a speaker who’s been impacted by a drunk driver share their story,” Higgs said.
She says it’s often a turning point for participants.
“People can get almost distracted by fines and probation,” Higgs said. “The victim impact panel is that moment to recognize that someone could really get hurt.”
Beyond prevention, Porchlight offers affordable recovery programs — from therapy groups to medication-assisted treatment — open to anyone, not just those ordered by the court.
“Anyone can walk in the door and receive services,” Higgs said. “Finances should not be a barrier.”
Higgs says group therapy and peer support are key parts of the recovery process, especially in rural communities where addiction and isolation often overlap.
“Group therapy is so important because we see ourselves reflected in others,” she said.
Porchlight Health provides addiction recovery and mental-health counseling in Cortez and throughout Colorado and New Mexico.
Porchlight Health is seeking volunteers for its bi-monthly Victim Impact Panel—a program designed to educate individuals convicted of DUIs through firsthand stories. The panel features those personally affected by impaired driving, and Porchlight is currently looking to expand its roster of speakers.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by drunk driving and is interested in sharing their story to help prevent future tragedies, please reach out to Porchlight Health at porchlighthealth.com.
