Judge's tough love fights drugs; In her drug court, the approach is to 'get well or go to jail'.(B SECTION)

Byline: ROBERT PATRICK robert.patrick@heraldtribune.com

BRADENTON -- Once a week, Circuit Judge Janette Dunnigan sheds her black robe and leads a fast-paced walk along city streets.

"C'mon, slowpokes," she calls out to the recovering drug addicts who trail behind.

The 30 minutes of walking and talking gives her and counselor Charles Mead more than just one-on-one time with drug addicts struggling to overcome their addiction. It also lets her practice her "holistic approach" to drug treatment, which includes diet, exercise, a dose of mothering, and even acupuncture treatments.

"If you're taking drugs to feel good and you can feel good by doing something healthy, then why not substitute that?" she asks. "We try to treat the mind and body."

Dunnigan runs Manatee County's drug court program, one of 82 in a state that saw about 10,000 new "clients" in 2001.

Unlike criminal court, which Dunnigan said is focused on punishment, drug court is focused on rehabilitation and treatment, and is an attempt to divert drug users from the criminal justice …