Touching post after photo of mum overdosing on heroin went viral

A mum whose photo was widely shared after she was pictured passed out behind the wheel of a car from a heroin overdose has celebrated three years of sobriety.

Erika Hurt, 28, of the US state of Indiana, was photographed passed out while holding a needle with her 10-month-old son in the backseat in 2016.

Her photo was taken by a police officer.

Ms Hurt was revived with two sprays of Nacran, which is a nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdose, according to Good Morning America.

The mum was on probation and sentenced to six months in rehab.

Ms Hurt told Good Morning America while in rehab she saw the photo police had taken of her had been handed out to the media.

Erika Hurt, 28, holding her son Parker, 3.
Erika Hurt, 28, holds her son Parker, 3, while celebrating three years of sobriety. Source: Facebook/ Erika Hurt and Ali Elizabeth Photography

She said it was “humiliating”.

Ms Hurt added she also came to realise the toll her addiction had taken on her son Parker’s life.

"We didn't have a bond, and that was really sad," she told Good Morning America.

"I was physically there for my son but I was not mentally there for him and I missed all of his first milestones."

She said that was her “turning point”.

On October 22, she wrote on Facebook, she’s been sober ever since her stint in rebab.

“While I can admit that my son was unfortunately not enough to keep me sober then, he is my motivation today,” Ms Hurt wrote.

“Had Narcan not been available to me; or had someone who felt that I didn’t deserve Narcan been there that day, I would have never had the chance to get sober and my son would be growing up without ever knowing his mum.”

Erika Hurt passed out in the front seat of a car while holding a needle.
Hurt passed out in 2016. Source: Town of Hope Police Department

She shared photos of a photoshoot with Parker, which have since been shared more than 4,400 times.

People praised her for overcoming her addiction.

“These pictures are so beautiful it made tear up,” Ms Hurt wrote.

“Keep fighting the good fight.”

Another woman called her an “inspiration”.

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