I forgot to blink and my jaw swung like a crack addict – I faked ADHD to get Adderall prescription for 10 years

AT her lowest point, Shannon Anderson’s body was under such strain that her jugular vein visibly pulsed through the skin on her neck. The 37-year-old was living on the edge as her drug use spiralled out of control, leaving her paranoid, sleep-deprived and physically deteriorating. Mum Shannon Anderson was living with a debilitating drug addiction that left her paranoid and sleep deprived Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson Pictured here with her husband Mark and their sons Greyson, Harrison and Sutton Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson Now celebrating an incredible 10 years sober, Shannon has opened up about the harrowing reality of her addiction to a common ADHD drug – and the moment she realised she faced “life or death”. The mum-of-three has revealed she was hooked on up to 300mg of Adderall a day – more than seven times the recommended adult dose – in a terrifying addiction that should have killed her. Shannon, from Kansas City, Missouri, is now a sober coach and uses her story to help others battling similar demons. “After one pill, I was essentially hooked,” Shannon tells Sun Health. Shannon was taking up to 300mg of Adderall a day at one point Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson The mum is now celebrating 10 years sober and has opened up about the harrowing reality of her addiction Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson “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.” The stimulant is commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy in the US, but is not available in the UK, where it’s considered a class-B controlled substance. Instead, methylphenidate (including brands like Ritalin and Concerta) tends to be prescribed on the NHS for ADHD. Shannon revealed she first got hold of the powerful drug from doctors by simply saying she had “trouble focusing”. She says: “When I went to get on Adderall in 2006, it was extremely easy to get. “I first took it when studying for finals my freshman year in college and it was to help me focus.” She says that she didn’t find Adderall difficult to get – but admits faking her way through an ADHD assessment in order to do so. From there, her addiction escalated. Before turning her life around, Shannon’s addiction took a brutal toll on both her mind and body. 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, who works in sales, and mum to Greyson, six, Harrison, four and Sutton, two, realised just how severe her addiction had become. She says: “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.” Shannon says that her addiction left her jaw swinging from side to side Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson The mum of three has been sober since Valentine’s day 2016 Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson What you need to know about Adderall addiction Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. It is an amphetamine – a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. When used as prescribed for ADHD, Adderall can reduce symptoms, resulting in improved focus and attention. But it also has a serious potential for abuse. Symptoms of Adderall and other amphetamine misuse may include: Increased heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and/or sweating Dilated pupils Hyperactivity Restlessness Insomnia Decreased appetite Loss of coordination Tremors Flushed skin Vomiting and/or abdominal pain Source: American Addiction Centers The side effects were devastating. She says: “I developed chronic dry eye because I would take so many stimulants that I would forget to blink and not sleep. “I began getting chronic hives and I couldn’t get them to go away without steroids. “I would move my jaw side-to-side like a crack addict and it’s something I still do today when I am concentrating on something. “My blood would be pumping so hard throughout my body that one time my mum even commented on why she could see my jugular vein pulsing through my neck. “My pupils would literally become as big as my iris to the point that people would comment on that too. “As for the paranoia and lack of sleep, Adderall or stimulants make you extremely anxious. “With lack of sleep added into the mix, you start to hallucinate.” Shannon says she “came to accept” she had a problem with Adderall, and so she went to an addiction treatment centre. But it wasn’t until she was speaking to others at the centre that she realised she actually had an addiction, which was a lightbulb moment. She says: “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. Shannon’s addiction made her develop chronic dry eyes as the stimulant would make her forget to blink Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson Since becoming sober, Shannon has had to learn how to deal with panic attacks without the help of drugs Credit: Jam Press/Shannon Anderson “The substance doesn’t matter. That’s when I knew it was life or death.” Determined to change, she began attending 12-step meetings and has been sober since Valentine’s Day 2016. Shannon says: “It was there where I could really be honest. “It was imperative I had sober support around me. “I was not ‘addicted’ to anything else, but my behaviour with substances wasn’t healthy, which is why I chose to get completely sober. “I would use other drugs if they were around. I ultimately just wanted the escape. “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.” She also warned the problem may now be even easier to fall into. Shannon says: “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.” NHS advise on drug addiction According to the NHS, your GP may be a good place to start when looking for help with drug use. They can discuss your problems with you and help get you into treatment if needed. They will usually refer you to your local drug service. If you’re having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600. They can talk you through all your options. At your first appointment for drug treatment, you may be asked to provide a sample of urine or saliva to check what drugs you have been taking. Staff will talk you through all your treatment options and agree a treatment plan with you. The different type of drug treatments include: Talking therapies – such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Detoxification – for people who want to stop taking opioids like heroin. It helps you cope with the withdrawal symptoms Support groups – this includes Narcotics Anonymous (UKNA) or SMART recovery Source: NHS But Shannon insists the issue goes beyond individuals. She says: “On the flip side, I have had people comment on my content saying: ‘I am the reason there are shortages at the pharmacy and why doctors are hesitant to prescribe’. “Neither of those things were ever my experience. “I think it is probably just a result of the overprescribing of this medication.” But recovery came with its own challenges. Shannon says: “I 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 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 and it is possible to get clean. She added: “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.”