Home / Health / Mum of 5's 40-pill-a-day codeine habit led to dealer
Mum of 5's 40-pill-a-day codeine habit led to dealer
21 Sep
Summary
- A mother of five developed a severe codeine addiction, taking 40 pills daily.
- Her habit escalated over nine years, costing £6,500 and requiring a dealer.
- She achieved 12 months of sobriety and encourages others to seek help.
A mother of five, Terina Moretto, aged 45, from Stoke-on-Trent, has revealed the severity of her nine-year codeine addiction. She escalated to consuming 40 pills daily, a dangerously high level compared to the recommended maximum of eight. This habit was fueled by her diagnosis of fibromyalgia and significant grief following the loss of family members.
Moretto's addiction reached a crisis point where she was forced to source pills from a drug dealer, spending approximately £180 monthly over three years to sustain her £6,500 annual habit. She described needing the pills to "function as a mother," enabling her to manage daily tasks. Her older children expressed concern about her escalating use.
After a prolonged struggle, Moretto made the decision to seek sobriety and has now achieved 12 months of recovery. She experienced severe withdrawal symptoms but remained determined. Moretto is now advocating for others struggling with addiction, emphasizing that help is available and recovery is possible.
