Watertown Man Celebrates 1,179 Days Sober After Codington County Treatment Court Transforms His Life
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - For nearly eight years, Dylan Bethke’s life was dominated by methamphetamine addiction. Between repeated stays in jail and rehab facilities, job loss, and deteriorating mental and physical health, Bethke found himself trapped in a cycle that seemed impossible to break.
At age 27, facing a crossroads, Bethke decided he had reached his limit.
"I had had enough of what I was looking for, I wasn't finding," Bethke shared during a recent episode of Codington Connects Weekly Update on Northeast Radio SD. "I was ready to do something more with my life, get myself together."
That decision led Bethke to Codington County’s Treatment Court program—a specialized, intensive legal and therapeutic framework designed as an alternative to prison for high-risk, high-need individuals struggling with severe substance use disorders.
Now, more than three years later, Bethke is celebrating over 1,179 consecutive days of sobriety.
The Journey Through Addiction and Recovery
Bethke’s path into addiction began in high school following personal difficulties, progressing from huffing and alcohol to daily methamphetamine use by his early twenties.
"I used every which way there is," Bethke recalled. "When you're withdrawing from it, there's that major depressive episode that you go through. It's just really tough to walk away from because you know the next fix is going to cheer you right up, but it's temporary. It's not worth it."
The addiction isolated Bethke from loved ones and disrupted his ability to maintain employment. During the first year of his oldest son's life, Bethke was unable to parent, leaving his mother to care for the child while he cycled in and out of treatment centers.
Entering Treatment Court provided the structure and support network Bethke desperately needed. Angie Collignon, Substance Use and Justice Programs Coordinator for Codington County, worked closely with Bethke throughout his time in the program.
"Dylan is one of the people who I've seen make the most of every opportunity that he received," Collignon said. "Treatment court is not a program that you just 'get through'... it's two and a half years of your life to learn how to continue to move forward."
A Network of Support
Central to Bethke’s success was changing his social circle, engaging in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through the Human Service Agency (HSA), and connecting with local support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars (BSBB).
The transition was not without challenges. Early recovery brought heavy mental health struggles and the difficulty of balancing work, court requirements, community service, and family responsibilities. However, counseling and community resources helped Bethke develop crucial coping mechanisms.
Today, Bethke’s primary focus is his family. As a full-time father to his two young sons, aged two and four, he credits his recovery with giving him back the ability to be present in their lives.
"I got a relationship with my kids," Bethke said. "I get to be a dad. Foremost above everything else, that is probably my favorite thing in life... I get to go home and be present, which I couldn't have done a few years ago."
Expanding Local Resources
Codington County continues to bolster its justice and substance use programs. Utilizing a $1 million Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) grant, the county has implemented an adult diversion program, enhanced jail re-entry services, and expanded peer support initiatives through organizations like Face It Together.
Collignon emphasizes that financial constraints should never prevent people in crisis from seeking help, noting that many local services use a sliding fee scale.
For Bethke, sharing his journey publicly is a way to offer encouragement to others who feel trapped by addiction or mental illness.
"I just really encourage people that are struggling with addiction or mental health to seek the help that is available," Bethke said. "You are capable of achieving great things if you use the resources that we have here. You're not stuck where you're at."
