Finding an Oasis from Addiction

Bronx woman finds recovery and support at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi’s Outpatient Treatment Program

On a cold autumn night, Bronx native Jerica Rodriguez realized she couldn’t keep going. In two years, her world had collapsed. She lost her job. Her marriage had ended. Her beloved dog, Brownie, had died. And despite countless attempts, Jerica was still using heroin every day.

Sitting at Brownie’s grave, she made a promise to get clean.

“That was my rock bottom” she said. “I had had three overdoses by then and I knew I had to get clean or I’d die,” she said. “This time around I was going to remain sober, come hell or high water. I made a promise to Brownie.”

 Later in her Pelham Parkway apartment, Jerica called her mother, Julia, and asked for help.

Jerica’s addiction journey was a bi-coastal struggle between the Bronx and Southern California.  She was born in the Bronx, then spent her teen years in Fresno, where she began experimenting with marijuana, alcohol, and ecstasy. By her mid-twenties, she and her then husband were using heroin, crystal meth, Percocet, and Xanax—stronger, more addictive substances.

“I wasn’t even aware how much strain and damage I was doing to my physical body. All my body felt was grief, loneliness, and despair. A constant hunger for something else, and I just fed it with the drugs because I didn’t know what else to do,” she said.

Each move between California and New York felt like a fresh start, but the drug use escalated. Before she knew it, Jerica had been using various substances on both coasts for 17 years.

Through it all, she remembered her mother’s advice from years ago on where to go when you need help: “If anything ever goes wrong and you need a hospital, go to Jacobi.”

On October 31, 2024, Jerica found the courage to walk into NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. She was terrified, but the care team knew how to support her.

“It’s like trying to get a scared animal to come to you and they understand that you can’t do big fast movements or I’m going to run away,” she said. “So, they were very kind and very gentle. They helped me come out of my shell and not be so scared to interact with people.”

She was admitted into the Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Center (CATC), an outpatient program offering withdrawal management, medication treatment, individual and group counseling, and psychotherapy for people facing substance use related challenges.

Each year, the program serves over 500 patients, helping them build recovery plans that not only include evidence-based addiction treatment but also connect them to housing, food, vocational development, and legal resources.

“For me, the Jacobi program is like an oasis in the desert that is addiction,” she said. “I’ve been to other programs in the past. But this one is different. They treat you with a lot of humanity.”

At Jacobi, Jerica found the support she needed to rebuild her health, and confront the emotional roots of her addiction. She learned coping strategies, rebuilt relationships, and slowly began to imagine a future not defined by drugs.

She credits Dr. Tiffany Lu and addiction counselor Omar Archibald for guiding her through recovery.

“When I met Dr. Lu I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew I was in safe hands”, Jerica says. “She remembered me and greeted me by name. She didn’t see me as ‘just another junkie.’”

Dr. Lu listened without judgment and celebrated small victories.

“It’s a journey,” Dr. Lu explains. “Our philosophy at Jacobi, and throughout NYC Health + Hospitals, is to evolve with the patient. We’re here to support you through it”.

Today, Jerica has been in recovery for over a year. She now lives with her brother in the Bronx. She enjoys her time crafting, and taking daily walks with her dog, Ivy Daisy. Jerica also aspires to become a Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, so she can help others.

“I think the biggest thing is that I’m more than my biggest mistake. This doesn’t define who I am. This is a very, very small piece,” she said. “So, for me, it’s about getting my life back and for the first time in a very, very long time, being genuinely happy.”

More Information

NYC Health + Hospitals Alcohol, Substance Use and Opioid Services
NYCDOH Alcohol and Drug Use Services
Prevent Overdose