Schools
From Addiction To Stockton Grad: A Galloway Woman's Journey
She was prepping for her last semester at Kean in 2009 when a pain medication led to addiction. She graduated from Stockton 10 years later.
GALLOWAY, N.J. — Luana Cordeiro was preparing for her last semester at Kean University when everything changed. In 2009, the Galloway woman was prescribed a pain medication that led to cocaine and heroin addiction.
Cordeiro was one of over 1,800 students who graduated from Stockton University on Friday. For years, she never thought she'd see the day.
She struggled or years with addiction until finally entering rehab. Cordeiro recovered but thought college was a lost dream. Then the Atlantic County Recovery Court and Stockton offered Cordeiro an opportunity to get her degree in criminal justice.
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“What Luana did is very, very hard,” said Recovery Court Judge Mark Sandson. “And now she is helping others.”
Cordeiro now works at Enlightened Solutions, an addiction treatment center. She plans to get her master's degree in social work.
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“My mother and my family are so proud,” Cordeiro said.
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