Stevie Davis, a 36-year-old woman from Gloucestershire, survived cervical cancer diagnosed in 2014, which led to multiple surgeries and prolonged pain, resulting in her being prescribed opioids like co-codamol.

Her reliance on co-codamol, a combination of paracetamol and codeine, grew over seven years as her pain worsened, leading to a dependency that she concealed from friends and family.

Long-term use of co-codamol, which contains codeine, can be highly addictive if not used carefully, and NHS guidelines emphasize the importance of adhering to medical advice to avoid dependence.

Her addiction was identified by a pain management specialist, and she decided to quit cold turkey under medical supervision, enduring severe withdrawal symptoms such as restless legs, insomnia, nausea, sweating, euphoria, anxiety, and depression.

Despite multiple attempts to quit, Stevie found it difficult to stop using co-codamol, often relapsing within hours and hiding her addiction from loved ones.

During her addiction, she spent around £200 a month on the medication, totaling approximately £16,800 over seven years, which she kept secret from her friends and family.

After overcoming her addiction, Stevie feels much better and now dedicates herself to raising awareness about opioid dependency, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and speaking out.

She advocates for increased awareness about the risks of long-term opioid use, especially after surgeries, and encourages others to seek support and discuss their struggles openly.

Her story highlights the dangers of pain management medications and the importance of cautious use, especially given her experience with dependency following her cancer treatments.

Since overcoming her addiction, Stevie reports a significant improvement in her life, stressing the importance of mental health support and open conversations about addiction.