Erica Otero

Erica is a Pueblo/Bessemer native, and her passion is helping her community maintaining sobriety and keeping families connected.

Oxy 80’s, prescribed after surgery, soon went to shooting up heroin, and within a blink of an eye. “I lost everything, my home, my job, my children, my life.” Erica spent ten years being homeless, battling addiction, seeing nothing but darkness, and doubting life and humanity. Never in Erica’s life did she imagine she would struggle after going to countless rehabs, relapsing, giving up hope, and failing herself and her children. Being asked to sign over her parental rights finally woke Erica up and gave her the reality check she needed. “I never wanted to lose my children but being alone on the streets with no support system, not knowing where to go while drowning in despair, created barriers in allowing me to find the right path back to them.” Erica’s road to recovery started when she learned about Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT). “Without Suboxone, I would have died!” Erica now has full custody of her children, a car, a house, a job, and, best of all, serving her community who have the struggles she once endured.