Maureen Harvey attended a hearing in St. John's provincial court Wednesday involving her addicted daughter. (CBC)

The mother of a young woman once described as the poster child for St. John's OxyContin crisis said Wednesday her daughter's addiction is so powerful that even her love for her seven-month-old son hasn't kept her off drugs.

Sonya Harvey appeared in provincial court to face charges that she tried to hold up a store in St. John's several weeks ago. She was arrested Sept. 24 after a woman armed with a knife attempted to steal money from the Jackman & Greene convenience store on Cookstown Road, in downtown St. John's.

Harvey, 25, was charged with armed robbery, using a disguise with intent to commit a criminal offence and breaching a court order.

Sonya's mother, Maureen, was in the courtroom for her daughter's appearance on Wednesday. Maureen Harvey said Sonya had only come off drugs since her arrest.

Even though Sonya is the mother of a seven-month old son, Harvey said, her addiction has proven to be too powerful.

"But she's told me, 'Mom, if my son is not enough motivation for me, then what is?' She is the best mom in the world, and when she's clean and sober, she's the best person in the world. And she struggles with trying to find out the reason why these drugs take her down so low, and why with this seven-month-old that she [has] that she absolutely adores, why he's not enough to keep her straight," she said.

Sonya Harvey was sent for drug-rehabilitation treatment outside of the province, but her mother wonders if her story would be different if long-term rehab was available in St. John's.

"We love her and I know she loves us too. And what we saw today was the straight person. We didn't see the addict, we didn't see the person who was there last week. And I've always maintained that, that I want to be part of her life when she wants to step up to the plate and help her out. What else can a mother do?" Maureen Harvey said.

Harvey did not enter a plea. She will return to court Oct. 14.

Harvey's legal troubles drew public attention in 2003 to a crisis about OxyContin, a powerful prescription narcotic that had become a popular street drug in the city area.