Smiles and cheers as drug court participants attain sobriety

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Angela Mardini of West Jordan holds her certificate of graduation as Third District Juvenile Court hosts a graduation ceremony at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, for 20 Drug Court participants of the Family Dependency Drug Court and the Delinquency Drug Court. Mardini, who was happy to get her two children back after a long and difficult journey, is now a peer counselor at Valley Mental Health. Drug Court graduates have completed substance abuse treatment services, frequent drug testing, and close monitoring by the court. After successfully completing the program, Family Dependency Drug Court participants are reunified with their children, while Delinquency Drug Court participants have their charges dismissed.

Graduation 21 people successfully complete the program.

Family and friends of 21 graduates of 3rd District drug court on Wednesday shared messages of hope and encouragement to others fighting to overcome addictions.

The 21 six juveniles were honored at the Matheson Courthouse for successfully completing drug treatment.

Each year, the Family Dependency Drug Court serves about 140 parents. The Juvenile Drug Court works with about 65 youth. About 60 percent of parents and juveniles who enter both drug courts successfully complete it. And of those parent success stories, more than 90 percent are reunited with their children, according to statistics provided by the 3rd District Court.

Many said their battles for sobriety will be life-long, but beamed as they successfully reached the significant milestone of completing drug court.

"You chose to not let your problem, your particular set of problems defeat you," Matthew B. Durrant, chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, told the standing room only crowd.

Angela Mardinis journey to sobriety has been a long one. The West Jordan resident said she ended up in jail in 2010 and lost custody of her two girls. Mardini said that was her rock bottom.

By her graduation Wednesday, Mardini said she had regained custody of her 5- and 3-year-old girls, obtained employment at Valley Mental Health as a peer counselor and changed her life. She shares her story of addiction to marijuana and pills with other women in recovery and around the community to raise awareness.

"Going and graduating is an amazing experience for me and my kids," she said. "Theres a light at the end of the tunnel, and if I can do it they can do it."

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Smiles and cheers as drug court participants attain sobriety