Jackie ‘O’ Henderson reveals shock way she got her hands on prescription medication during height of her addiction

By Jimmy Briggs For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:48 GMT, 29 October 2024 | Updated: 09:48 GMT, 29 October 2024

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has opened up about the shocking way she managed to access prescription medication during the height of her addiction struggles.

The radio queen, 49, made the startling confession in her new memoir, The Whole Truth, which went on sale on Tuesday. 

‘An addiction to prescription medication requires effort, in the form of doctor shopping, which was exhausting and embarrassing,’ Jackie began.

‘I knew this, because I’d done it back when I was taking Endone. You have to find different medical centres every month. With a new patient showing up and asking for powerful painkillers, they’re immediately suspicious.’

Jackie then revealed that rather than deal with the challenges which came with going to GPs, she decided it was easier to access her medication from the black market.

‘I was hit by a stroke of good luck – or incredibly bad luck – when I met someone who was able to access prescription medication for me. It was dodgy as hell, but I risked it anyway.

‘My problem was not only solved, but even better, I’d be able to get a stronger codeine painkiller, Panadeine Forte.’ 

The presenter added she was forced to go cold turkey after her dealer was arrested, completely cutting off her supply.

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson (pictured) has opened up about the shocking way she managed to access prescription medication, during the height of her addiction struggles

The radio queen, 49, made the startling confession in her new memoir, The Whole Truth, which went on sale on Tuesday.

‘My mobile phone rang. It was my supplier, calling me to let me know that they’d been busted. Just like that, I had no more access to my pills. 

‘This was the moment I had been dreading, where I’d finally have to address my addiction and somehow stop a habit I’d been indulging for years.’

The radio star made the stunning admission about her addiction issues during a tearful conversation with her co-host Kyle Sandilands on their KIIS FM radio show last Thursday morning.

Jackie revealed at the height of her addiction she was consuming up to 12 Stilnox sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte tablets daily, often with alcohol. 

The KIIS FM star admitted on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that she secretly checked into the Betty Ford Clinic for drug and alcohol addiction in November 2022.

Jackie admitted she was advised not to reduce her pill intake before arriving at the clinic, meaning she was still using the substances the day she flew out to the US. 

When Jackie took her break from the show in 2022, Kyle Sandilands told listeners she was stepping away to ‘focus on her health’ after contracting COVID-19.

Jackie then revealed that rather than deal with the challenges which came with going to GPs, she decided it was easier to get her medication from the black market 

However, behind the scenes, the beloved radio host was battling an addiction that had spiralled out of control.

The veterean presenter said she wanted to publicly speak about her addiction battle to reduce the ‘stigma’ around drug dependence and ‘normalise’ it.

The presenter bravely apologised to listeners for not revealing her health struggles before and revealed she will be marking two years of sobriety in a matter of weeks.

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Jackie ‘O’ Henderson reveals shock way she got her hands on prescription medication during height of her addiction

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