The Truth About Mama June's $2,500 Daily Drug Habit
June "Mama June" Shannon rose to fame on TLC's Toddler and Tiaras, becoming well-known for her outlandish antics alongside her daughter, Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson. Mama June and Honey Boo Boo's outrageous personalities scored them the spin-off show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which followed their colorful lives in Georgia. The reality star was married to Honey Boo Boo's dad, Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson during this time, but they eventually split in 2014. That same year, the popular show was canceled when it was revealed Mama June allegedly rekindled a relationship with an ex who is a convicted sex offender.
But just when you thought Mama June was done with reality TV for good, We TV came knocking with Mama June: From Not to Hot. As of June 2020, the show is called Mama June: Family Crisis, due to the matriarch's battle with drug addiction and her allegedly toxic relationship with her boyfriend, Geno Doak, who is a convicted felon. For those who forgot, Geno and Mama June were arrested in March 2019 on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, according to TMZ.
These issues were why Mama June didn't talk to her kids for a while, although it appears Alana and one of her other daughters, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, are trying to reconcile with their mom. One of these reconciliation attempts was featured on an episode of Mama June: Family Crisis when Pumpkin got Mama June to admit her very expensive drug habit, which we detail below.
Mama June comes clean
In a June 2020 episode of Mama June: Family Crisis, Mama June got real about her drug addiction and how the battle has hurt her wallet. While talking to Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon through tears, Mama June admitted that she gave up personal possessions to score meth. "The only reason I sold the house, we was dead f***ing broke," she revealed to Pumpkin. She added, "Because you know at that point we was doing quite a bit. I mean, it was a couple ounces a day."
As for how much all of this cost? "Our habit was $2,500 a day, if not more," the reality star admitted. Wow.
Mama June, who also said she used Fioricet and Xanax, didn't hold back when describing her descent into drugs."It wasn't something that just started ... I got high because I wanted to," the matriarch shared. "It's not the first time I've ever done drugs."
Although Mama June told Pumpkin she was working on getting clean, not everything was resolved. "You have to understand too, like, I can't have Ella and Alana around that," Pumpkin said about her sister and young daughter.
Of course, fans are hopeful Mama June will overcome her addiction for the sake of herself and her family. We wish the Toddler and Tiaras alum the best in her recovery.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health, please contact SAMHSA's 24-hour National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).