A mother of three from Kansas City, Missouri, has revealed how she became addicted to medication prescribed for ADHD, taking more than seven times the recommended adult dose—a level that should have been fatal. Shannon Anderson, 37, was consuming 300mg of dextroamphetamine (commonly known as Adderall) daily, leaving her paranoid, sleep-deprived, and physically deteriorating.
At her lowest point, her body was under such strain that her jugular vein visibly pulsed through her neck. Shannon has spoken openly about the harrowing reality of her addiction and the moment she realised it was 'life or death'.
'After one pill, I was essentially hooked,' said Shannon. 'The second that pill kicked in, a euphoria washed over me I had never felt before. Eventually, the addiction really took over and my tolerance had grown so much that I ultimately needed Adderall to function in my life.'
Easy Access to Medication
Shannon explained how easy it was to obtain the powerful drug initially. 'When I went to get on Adderall probably 15 years ago, it was extremely easy to get. You go to a doctor, say you have trouble focusing and that you think you have ADHD. They send you to get 'tested'. You basically just sit in a room with a camera and a computer and have to press a space bar at certain times on the screen. Miss it a few times and voila, you have ADHD and get prescribed controlled substances.'
Devastating Side Effects
Before turning her life around, Shannon's addiction took a brutal toll. She would 'move my jaw from side-to-side like a crack addict'—a symptom she still experiences today. Shannon, now married to husband Mark, 44, and mother to Greyson, six, Harrison, four, and Sutton, two, soon realised how severe her addiction had become.
'I could take at least 300mg in a day. I vividly remember the first time popping five 30mg XR pills in my mouth at once and doing that again later that day,' she said. The side effects were devastating:
- Chronic dry eye from forgetting to blink due to stimulant use
- Chronic hives that required steroids to manage
- Involuntary jaw movement, still present when concentrating
- Visible jugular vein pulsing from intense blood flow
- Dilated pupils that attracted comments
- Paranoia and hallucinations from lack of sleep
Turning Point
Shannon said the turning point came when she could no longer deny the truth. 'I was talking to intravenous drug addicts and that's when I had this spiritual awakening. My experience was similar to theirs—I got the drug and could no longer say no. I kept seeing myself as different and not an addict, but that moment made me realise I was an addict. The substance doesn't matter. That's when I knew it was life or death.'
Determined to change, she began attending 12-step meetings. 'It was there where I could really be honest. It was imperative I had sober support around me. After starting my Sober is Chic business and taking it to social media, the amount of people I have met who are just like me is astounding. This is definitely an epidemic.'
Warning About Virtual Prescriptions
Shannon also warned that the problem may now be even easier to fall into. 'I've had clients that have shared the same experiences. I've had family members reach out to me on social media saying their loved ones were able to get them through virtual appointments—which wasn't a thing when I was using. So they were able to have multiple doctors prescribe them.'
But Shannon insists the issue goes beyond individuals. 'On the flip side, I have had people comment on my content saying 'I am the reason that there are shortages at the pharmacy and why doctors are hesitant to prescribe'. Neither of those things was ever my experience. I think it is probably just a result of the overprescribing of this medication.'
Recovery Challenges
Recovery came with its own challenges. 'I had randomly had panic attacks in my active addiction but when I got sober, the panic attacks came on so often. I remembered learning that I could breathe through and walk through any panic attack. I was so used to taking something when those feelings came on before. This was new territory for me.'
Despite everything, Shannon insists there is hope. 'You can do this. Stop telling yourself you can't. Your addiction will kill you. And if it doesn't, you will live a miserable existence until something else does. My course or coaching will help show you the way. It's life or death and it's time to choose life.'
