Mama June's drug battle: How 15-year-old Honey Boo Boo cried to sleep every night and took therapy

For the last few years, Honey Boo Boo craved Mama June's attention but she was away battling drug addiction
Alana Thompson, June Shannon from 'Mama June: Road to Redemption' (Getty Images)
Alana Thompson, June Shannon from 'Mama June: Road to Redemption' (Getty Images)

"You don’t know how many nights I’ve cried myself to sleep," when a 15-year-old says this, you cannot help but empathize with her because somewhere it worries you. Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson's elder sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, however, has got everything under control.

The last few years have been traumatizing for the little one. With mother June 'Mama June' Shannon absconding and them being homeless, Honey Boo Boo has had a lot on her plate. The stress had reached a point where she had to take therapy. More on that in a bit.

READ MORE

Are June Shannon and Geno Doak still together? Inside 'Mama June' couple's $900K drug expense and arrest

Is June Shannon dying? 'Mama June' fans shocked after she reveals she has stage 3 lipidemia and 6 months to live



 


"She’s definitely in a better place than she was a year ago. We’ve started working on ourselves attending therapy and being more conversational as a family all together," she told The Sun and added that she has been constantly encouraging Honey Boo Boo to score well in school and then opt for college. "There aren’t a lot of people in our family who have done that. I know Alana is very much capable of it," Pumpkin concluded.

Even though the kids miss their mother, Pumpkin reckoned it was best she was away and healing. She confirmed that Honey Boo Boo will remain in her care. "I’m not really sure if Alana would want to go back to that situation only because for so long Mama did lie about what was going on and how things were going on there."



 


Mama June has battled drug addiction for the longest time, which impacted her relationships and family life. However, she recently marked one year of her sobriety journey alongside her boyfriend Geno Doak. But, that is not enough. If she wishes to see her children again and be a part of their lives, Mama June will have to go above and beyond regular forgiveness.

Fortunately, she realizes that it will be tough to go back to her past and fix what she broke. Once, she sold her home without so much as leaving the kids a note. This drastic move left Honey Boo Boo, Pumpkin, and her family on the streets. After this, it's tough not to see where Pumpkin and Honey Boo Boo are coming from.

Catch all the new episodes of 'Mama June: Road to Redemption' on WE tv every Friday at 9/8c. For more information, check your local listings.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

‘VisionQuest’ introduces a new villain with a connection to Stark Industries
2026-10-21T10:28:50.000Z
Julia Garner will also star in the series alongside Lewis Pullman and Maddie Hasson
2026-10-21T09:17:29.000Z
Season 24 Episode 3 brings a character from Nicholas Torres’ past that threatens his future in ‘NCIS’
2026-10-21T08:26:30.000Z
Catherine Standish told River that someone had left the light on at his grandfather’s house, and things took a turn from there
2026-10-21T07:28:35.000Z
Leroy Jethro Gibbs reunites with two fan favorites in episode 3 of 'NCIS: Origins' while searching for answers
2026-10-21T06:53:16.000Z
‘NCIS: Origins’ Season 3 will see an ‘off-the-books’ agent arrive to help Gibbs solve his present-day mystery
2026-10-21T04:33:54.000Z
The newly added cast member happens to be an ‘old buddies’ with Max Thieriot’s Bode and Jordan Calloway’s Jake.
2026-10-21T04:22:12.000Z
'AHS' Season 13 is drawing to a close, but the anthology series has more in store for fans
2026-10-21T02:56:18.000Z
Luke Thompson offers a glimpse of Benedict’s future as ‘Bridgerton’ Season 5 shifts to a new love story.
2026-10-20T20:36:07.000Z
The newcomer is linked to Marlena and Stefano’s family mystery and is set to arrive in Salem very soon.
2026-10-20T19:19:07.000Z