A single mother has shared her story of battling a nearly 15-year addiction to cocaine, later compounded by codeine dependency, which resulted in accumulating close to £30,000 in debt and nearly losing her home. Abby House detailed how her drug use impacted her life, leading her to sell personal belongings to fund her habit.
House described using cocaine for over 15 years, a habit that began in her teenage years. She stated that at her lowest points, she would use cocaine every other night after her children were asleep, comparing it to her evening glass of wine. The addiction escalated to the point where she would spend up to £700 per month on cocaine and codeine.
Financial Ruin and Deception
Her addiction led to severe financial consequences. House reported racking up £29,000 in debt over the course of her addiction. This included £9,000 on credit cards and falling behind on household bills, such as council tax and car insurance, at one point driving an uninsured vehicle. She managed to enter an individual voluntary arrangement to pay back this debt over five years. However, two years after completing this, new debts of £12,000 accumulated, partly due to her inability to pay utility and water bills because she was prioritizing drug payments.
Her mother eventually paid off these arrears, and House later repaid her. During this period, House managed to conceal her addiction from her family, attributing her financial struggles to clothes shopping. The situation worsened when, five years ago, she developed a codeine addiction following weight-loss surgery in 2021. Initially prescribed opioid medication for pain, she quickly became dependent, consuming 224 pills a month within days and subsequently ordering more online and purchasing it over the counter.
This combined addiction led to another £8,000 in debt from credit cards, loans, and household bill arrears. She missed rental payments, and her housing association warned her she could lose her home if the arrears were not cleared.
Path to Recovery
The threat of eviction served as a wake-up call. House sought help for her codeine addiction and stopped using the drug in October 2024, also taking time off work to focus on her mental health. This period made her eligible for a debt relief order for the £8,000 balance.
However, quitting codeine left her in a difficult place, leading her to use cocaine again to cope. During this time, she resorted to selling household items, including a floor lamp, clothes, and trainers, to fund her cocaine use, spending around £400 per month on the drug.
In May of the previous year, House made the decision to stop using drugs entirely and commit to recovery. She began listening to sobriety and recovery-focused content and, after approximately five months of sobriety, launched a TikTok channel named Addiction2Advocate to share her experiences. She also confessed the full extent of her cocaine addiction to her mother.
Present Day
Now over a year sober from cocaine, House is receiving counseling through a drug and alcohol service. Her financial situation has improved significantly; she has saved for Christmas, keeps her bills up to date, and no longer needs to borrow money from family. She attributes her current frugality to her past experiences and her desire to avoid returning to that situation. She stated that her relationships with her children have also improved dramatically.