Mama June Almost Spent a Million on Drugs in a Year: Inside Her Life After Drug Issues

“Mama June: Road to Redemption” might be another installation chronicling TV star Mama June and her family life, but it tells how she recovered from her downward spiral regarding addiction.

In over a decade-long career as a reality star, Mama June had the most challenging time on TV after her damaging contact with drugs. Fans watched a reality empire that was built from scratch become threatened by her drug use and addiction.

Mama June became estranged from her children within a few years, lost her home, and uncontrollably spent money on drugs. However, in 2020, the TV star seemed to experience a wake-up call that geared her into recovery. Here’s a glimpse through her sobriety journey.

When Did Mama June Become A TV Star

Reality TV fans were first introduced to the jolly Shannon family when June “Mama June” Shannon’s youngest child Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Shannon became the star on “Toddlers and Tiaras.” 

The family got a spin-off, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” and from there, they maintained their status as fans’ favorites on a TLC series. After that, the Shannons got more spin-offs including, “From Not To Hot,” where Mama June embarked on a weight loss journey.

The star achieved a weight loss of 300 pounds and went from a size 18 to a size 4. She was able to accomplish this feat via surgery. However, fans noticed an unfortunate turnaround for the Shannon family after Mama June and her now-ex boyfriend Geno Doak dabbled into drug use. 

Mama June Battled Drug Use Problems

The Georgia native got another spin-off, “Mama June: Family Crisis,” which centered on her free-fall into drug use. Mama June was addicted to Methamphetamine, and she once recalled that it cost her $2,500 daily. 

In 2019, the mom-of-four sold her Hampton mansion for $100,000. The TV star was said to have ridiculously and hastily sold the lavish home to sustain her increasing need for drugs. 

Mama June regularly used crack cocaine and methamphetamine while self-medicating with Xanax and Fioricet, a painkiller prescribed for tension headaches. Once revealing why she sold her house, the reality star stated that she and Doak were “dead broke.” 

The couple soon started shuffling from different hotels, and on some nights, they ended up sleeping in the car. Finally, things came to a head in March 2019 when Mama June and Doak were arrested. 

Doak And Mama June Were Arrested For Drug Possession

While Mama June and her man were entangled in their drug problems, the matter worsened. Authorities picked up the duo on suspicion of drug possession and paraphernalia. 

A bystander alerted authorities, and when they got to the scene, the reality personalities were arrested. They charged Doak with third-degree domestic violence. The drug possession and paraphernalia charges came later after officers found substances in their car. 

During their trial, the couple did not appear in court, while their lawyer made many appearances. The case was ultimately adjourned to April 2020. Amid the pandemic, Mama June decided it was time to put a stop to her drug use.

Geno Doak Was Sentenced

The couple’s case came to a head in 2021 when Doak was sentenced to 16 months behind bars. The 46-year-old entered custody in July 2021, and court documents stated that he would be released on November 28, 2022. 

While the TV personality is currently serving his term at Macon Community Correctional correction, Mama June’s road to redemption is in the works. On her part, the 42-years-old received a sentence of 100 hours of community service for her connection to the drug incident. 

Amid all of their troubles, Mama June figured it was time to end her relationship with Doak. An insider cited his inconsistency towards sobriety reason for the split. The source also stated that the “From Not To Hot” star started seeing someone else. 

Last summer, on an episode of her WE tv show, Mama June faced her demons head-on as she tried to fix the rift with her daughter, Honey Boo Boo. The star mom acknowledged her excesses and how she “missed out on a lot.”

Mama June: Road To Redemption

Mama June worked up a lot of courage to quit her long-time addiction while promising her daughters to be a better mom and be more present. The TLC star revealed that she expended almost $1 million on substances amid her drug addiction issue. 

The “Mama June: Road To Redemption” star has since gone on a cleaner path, making up for lost time with her children. She has also found a new love interest.

The star has been making headlines with her boyfriend, Justin Stroud, and the pair have proven not to be camera shy. It is safe to say that with her renewed zest for life and will to be drug-free, fans can expect that Mama June will make better decisions for herself and her family.