Ginny Shenton, 42, from Stockton-On-Tees, spent up to £3,565 a month on codeine tablets obtained from online pharmacies, leading to a severe addiction that culminated in stomach ulcers and two blood transfusions. Her story highlights the dangers of unregulated online pharmacies and the ease with which prescription-only drugs can be obtained without medical oversight.
From Prescription to Dependence
Shenton was first prescribed codeine in November 2022 to manage pain from gallstones and arthritis. She initially took the lowest dose of 15mg, four pills a day, but within six months her tolerance increased to 60mg. When her prescription no longer lasted the month, she began supplementing with over-the-counter co-codamol, a lower-strength codeine mixed with paracetamol.
Despite her escalating use, Shenton did not recognize a problem. 'At no point did I think this is a problem. I just thought I hadn't kept track of how many I was taking. And I wasn't getting high. I just felt normal again,' she told Metro. Her healthy relationship with alcohol and lack of prior drug use blinded her to the seriousness of her dependence.
Turning to Online Pharmacies
After being refused service at Boots for visiting daily, Shenton began splitting purchases between shops to avoid detection. Eventually, she discovered online pharmacies through a Google search. 'It was like ordering from Amazon. All you had to do is pick what you wanted and pay, there was no consultation or medical questions whatsoever,' she said.
Shenton's habit escalated to 100 pills a day, costing £115 per order, equating to roughly £3,565 monthly. She once bought 224 tablets in a single transaction, consuming them in two to three days. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) expressed concern about such websites. Chief executive Kathie Cashell warned: '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.'
Health Crisis and Recovery
In November 2025, Shenton experienced severe bleeding, leading to a hospital diagnosis of stomach ulcers caused by ibuprofen in co-codamol. She required two blood transfusions. The hospital stay prompted her to seek help, and she contacted the charity Grow Change Love, which referred her to a rehab service.
Despite undergoing a methadone programme, Shenton found the first four months challenging. 'If someone had given me some pills, I'd have taken them; psychologically, you still want it,' she admitted. She now manages arthritis pain through exercise and meditation, and reports a happier, drug-free life.
Call for Stricter Regulation
Shenton is now raising awareness about the dangers of online pharmacies, stating, 'making drugs so accessible can turn people into addicts.' She advocates for 'more checks and balances. These drugs can kill, and people need to be protected.' The GPhC advises checking its online register at pharmacyregulation.org to identify legitimate pharmacies and avoid harmful fake medicines.
