Ginny Shenton, 42, from Stockton-On-Tees, was spending £3,565 a month on codeine tablets bought from online pharmacies, hiding her addiction from family and friends until a medical emergency forced her to seek help.
Ginny was first prescribed codeine in November 2022 to ease pain from gallstones and arthritis. She quickly built up a tolerance, moving from 15mg to 60mg within six months, and began supplementing her prescription with over-the-counter co-codamol.
After being refused service at a Boots pharmacy for visiting daily, Ginny turned to online pharmacies, where she could order unlimited supplies without any consultation.
Addiction spirals out of control
Ginny's habit grew to 100 pills a day, costing £115 per day. She experienced withdrawals, lost weight, and fell into debt, borrowing money from family and using credit cards and payday loans.
In November 2025, she was hospitalized with stomach ulcers caused by ibuprofen in co-codamol, requiring two blood transfusions. This prompted her to seek help from a rehab service.
Recovery and warnings
Ginny completed a methadone programme and now manages her arthritis pain through exercise and meditation. She is raising awareness about the dangers of fake online pharmacies, which the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) says are a growing concern.
Kathie Cashell, chief executive at the GPhC, said: 'We are increasingly concerned about the number of fake online pharmacies. These often look real but could be selling medicines that are unsafe and seriously harmful.'
Ginny added: 'There needs to be more checks and balances. These drugs can kill, and people need to be protected.'
