Caitlin Atkins was prescribed strong painkillers for stomach pain as a teenager, which led to a devastating £100,000 addiction that nearly claimed her life. Now 32, Atkins from Edgbaston began using tramadol and codeine phosphate at age 16 after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Initially following her prescription, she soon felt she had discovered the 'key to life' as the drugs alleviated her anxiety about others' judgments.
From Prescription to Addiction
Within months, Atkins was 'popping them like sweets', consuming her 224 monthly doses in just two to three days. This abuse triggered a seizure in 2012. To sustain her habit, she turned to illegitimate online pharmacies and private doctors, spending £80 per order. Her tolerance escalated, leading her to try heroin in 2015, which quickly spiraled into a crack cocaine addiction costing up to £1,000 daily. She admitted begging family for money and using her benefits to fund the addiction, feeling 'numb and broken'.
Escape to Lanzarote Backfires
In May 2017, Atkins moved to Lanzarote hoping for a 'better life', but her addiction worsened. She consumed 56 co-codamol tablets daily, purchased through a private doctor. By December, her family brought her home after being warned she would die if she continued. Atkins estimates spending over £100,000 on drugs throughout her addiction.
Reflecting on her journey, Atkins said: 'Using drugs stopped being fun very early on. I got trauma from addiction and I knew it was only going to end one way.' She recalled feeling unsettled from a young age and finding temporary relief in opioids. 'I remember genuinely thinking I had found the key to life. All that worry of what people thought of me went away.'
Rock Bottom and Recovery
After relapsing following a dry house program in 2021, Atkins fell unexpectedly pregnant in 2022, which became her turning point. She sought help again and has now been clean for three years. 'My son has saved me in so many ways,' she said. 'He's changed my whole entire life.' Atkins urges others to seek help, emphasizing that recovery is possible.
The NHS warns that codeine and tramadol are addictive and require careful monitoring. Atkins' story highlights the dangers of prescription opioid abuse and the importance of addressing underlying issues.
