Teen-age lawbreakers have an opportunity for a fresh start under a program that begins today in Maine. Juvenile Drug Court, based on models from many other states, promises to be an important tool for reducing drug abuse among teens and the variety of antisocial behaviors that come with the abuse. The test for Maine will be to keep the program going beyond its first round of federal funding.

With 90 percent of its initial funding coming from a federal grant, the $800,000 drug court is a low-cost way for Maine to do more to get these juveniles away from the negative influences in their lives and toward more positive environments in school or work. The program reduces the time between an offense and court appearance and assigns case managers to constantly monitor each teen. Weekly — or more often — meetings with judges, counseling designed to catch problems early and an increased focus on family life provides a chance to address issues there. The drug courts have been established in Bangor, Portland, Biddeford, West Bath-Wiscasset and Augusta-Waterville.

Though these programs are nationwide, they have not been around long enough yet to leave lengthy track records, but results starting from the early 1990s are encouraging. The combination of close supervision and use of alcohol and drug treatment services have dropped recidivism rates, dropped drug use significantly while participants are in the program and has proven cost-effective: treatment costs range from $900 to $1,600 per participant, compared with about $5,000 for minimal jail time. The Judicial Council of California also found the unexpected benefit of a significant number of drug-free babies born to women in the drug court programs.

Just because a program works and saves money, however, doesn’t mean it will be supported. The Juvenile Drug Court program is not the first of its kind in Maine. A drug program for adults, called Project Exodus, operated in Portland until last August, when its $316,000 federal grant dried up and the Legislature did not think it was worth funding. Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson said at the time that the value of the program went beyond the dollars saved, especially to participants: “They’re working and paying taxes instead of committing crimes. … They’re better parents,” she said. “What price tag do you put on that?”

Lawmakers might watch the new juvenile program for signs of success. If they find it, extending a statewide drug court to adults would be a sensible next step.