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Last year, a photo of Erika overdosed on heroin went viral. Then, her life changed.

This time last year, a photo of Erika Hurt passed out after a heroin overdose in the front seat of her car went viral. Her baby boy was asleep in the back seat.

This week, the US mum celebrated being one year sober.

On Sunday Hurt reposted the photo, taken exactly a year ago, on Facebook, saying it had been the wake-up call she needed to get clean.

“I’ve seriously debated for the past month, on whether I should repost such a painful picture displaying the absolute worst moment of my life,” the childcare worker explained.

“I’ve decided to repost the picture simply because it displays exactly what heroin addiction is. Also because I do not want to ever forget where the road of addiction has taken me.

“Little did I know that day, my life was about to change, drastically.”

The photo was taken by a police officer just before paramedics arrived and were able to revive her.

“I was so hurt and embarrassed. I had no clue that the picture had even been taken,” Hurt told NBC.

“But at the same time, it was kind of an eye-opener opener to see myself like that.”

Hurt has also shared what led to that low point in her life, beginning with an addiction to painkillers that developed when she was just 15 years old and prescribed them after contracting a staph infection, US Weekly reports.

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Eventually, prescription painkillers weren’t enough and she turned to heroin.

Finding out she was pregnant was enough to keep her clean until after the birth of her son, Parker, in December 2015.

Listen: Robin Bailey discusses the best way to talk to you children about grief, on The Well.

However, she relapsed soon after. She had spent two weeks in rehab and returned home in October, ready to get high again.

The Indiana woman had pulled into the carpark of a local supermarket to shoot up, not knowing it had been laced with morphine.

Police released the photo taken at the time to local newspapers and stations while Hurt was in jail and soon went viral.

The 26-year-old said now she was able to “focus on the good that came from the picture”.

“Today, I am a mother to my son, again.”

“Today, I am able to be grateful to actually have solid proof where addiction will only lead you, and today I am able to say that I am ONE YEAR SOBER!”

The before-and-after photos that tell a mother’s story of addiction – and recovery.