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Sherry Moreno's Early Life and Struggles with Addiction
Sherry Moreno is a woman in long-term recovery.
By definition, this means she has been completely abstinent from all mind and mood-altering substances continuously for more than seven years.
Her personal introduction to recreational drugs occurred during her early teen years with friends.
However, it is the case that Sherry’s home life included parental and sibling use of drugs, which fostered a family culture of ‘drug use is normal.’
By age 14, she was addicted to methamphetamine.
This led to a troubling adjustment order behavior coupled with her initial encounters with the criminal justice system.
Sherry was sent to juvenile drug treatment facilities and at least one out-of-state mental health residential center.
Remarkably, she graduated high school with her peers.
The efforts of treatment may have planted a seed but did not substantially change her behavior.
Table of Contents
Legal Challenges and Turning Point
At 21 years of age, Sherry Moreno was sentenced to five years to life for aggravated robbery.
Six years later, she was released on parole and successfully terminated from parole within the year.
However, she did not disclose a relapse that occurred during that time and was already on her way to additional charges.
While in this period of “white-knuckling her freedom,” she was drowning in misery, sorrow, and hopelessness.
By the close of 2017, Sherry was in another holding cell in an unfamiliar county and didn’t realize she was about to be handed a gift that would save her life and set her on a trajectory toward lasting peace and freedom.
Sherry was offered a choice between residential treatment for drugs and alcohol or prison.
With interest in only gaming the system, she opted for rehab and was promptly informed, “Whatever gets you in the door.”
Embracing Recovery
Sherry was enrolled in Odyssey House of Utah in early 2018, mandated to county Drug Court, and placed on probation.
Over time, she embraced the ‘therapeutic community’ model of recovery, behavior change, and outlook on life.
She learned to hold herself accountable as well as those around her.
Sherry learned to trust others and to trust herself over the next year; she completed every aspect of the drug and alcohol treatment program and graduated in 2019.
Sherry completed every Drug Court condition and was successfully released from a 16-month probation.
During this period, she committed herself to addressing the financial responsibilities of the court and has been diligent in satisfying her monthly obligation.
Additionally, she secured legal housing in a safe neighborhood and purchased a vehicle.
Most importantly, she remains connected to the sober community through the Graduate’s Program of Odyssey House as well as attendance and fellowship with local 12-step groups.
Professional Development and Advocacy
In 2019, Sherry Moreno demonstrated a commitment to her profession by satisfying all requirements to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS).
Additionally, she completed the rigorous certification process to become a Forensic Peer Support (FPS) specialist in order to provide services more competently.
Due to her success in the role of a Peer Support Specialist, she was offered a position with Odyssey House as a Peer Support Supervisor.
Leading a team of six individuals, she focused on assisting staff and residents in maintaining hope and motivation for the difficult challenges of early sobriety.
Sherry exhibited passion for this work then and continues to champion the cause of recovery to this day.
She’s especially committed to helping bridge the gap from hopelessness to living a life filled with opportunity.
Bridging the gap of hopelessness is accomplished through mentorship and serving as a role model for other individuals transitioning from a lifetime of incarceration and drug dependence to a life filled with love and genuine connection.
Sherry has learned to lean into her experiences and trust her voice.
Leadership and Management
As a direct result of achievements and integrity in her position, she was offered a management opportunity that required her to stretch professionally.
Sherry transitioned from leading a single team to leading several teams as the Program Manager at one of the Odyssey House of Utah residential facilities.
She relied on her own mentors to help navigate these new expectations while also maintaining her own continuous sobriety.
This level of responsibility gave Sherry exposure to the intersection of fiscal responsibility, insurance guidelines, and client wellbeing.
While this work was very satisfying, Sherry continued to have concerns regarding the financial demands and limitations of a predetermined timetable for treatment.
Having experienced firsthand the often unrealistic matrix of 30-60-90 days, Sherry has committed herself to offering individualized support dependent upon the needs of the client.
She understands that ongoing, continuous sobriety routinely requires a complete upending in lifestyle coupled with a holistic approach to change.
Current Endeavors
In 2022, Sherry Moreno decided to leave Odyssey House and started working for Lifestart Village, a transitional housing facility for women and children.
She was the program assistant and worked closely with the women, teaching them how to maintain life, work, bills, raising kids, and their own sobriety.
In 2024, she decided to get back into the residential field and fine-tune her case management skills working at The Haven women’s residential facility, where she currently works full-time.
She helps women in early recovery navigate the court systems and any legal issues they may face, as well as a multitude of other responsibilities covering medical needs and vital documents, and helping them prepare for step down to sober living and transition back into society.
Her latest addition is working for Utah Family Therapy and Level Up IOP as a SUDC group facilitator and case manager, teaching life skills and offering real-time support to those in early recovery.
Meaning I’ve remained abstinent from drugs for over 5 years and still connected and active in the recovery community.
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