Codeine Addiction

Codeine is an opiate, which is often prescribed by medical professionals for pain relief.

However, people can develop tolerances quickly, which lead to the drug being taken in higher dosages.

Thus starting a dangerous path into opiate abuse.

For some codeine can start innocently following a prescription (pills, tablets or cough syrup).

Codeine can be less regulated than other opiate products, like morphine and OxyContin, which are considered more dangerous.

Though less potent, codeine provides similar effects to morphine.

Codeine is sometimes considered a gateway drug to more powerful opiates like heroin.

Captain Cody, Cody, Little C, Schoolboy, Co-codamol

Classification: Class B, schedule 2 drug. If injected it is a class A substance. 5-7 years imprisonment for possession.

The Government advises:

Over-the-counter codeine-containing medicines should be used for the short-term (3 days) treatment of acute, moderate pain that is not relieved by paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin alone.

Codeine facts:

• From 2016-2019 there were a total of 623 recorded codeine related deaths. [1]
• Twelve per cent (9,920) of the new clients reporting to drug treatment in 2009-10 reported problems in relation to prescription-only or over the counter medicines. The majority of these clients (ten percent of the treatment population, 8,229) report these problems alongside problems with illegal drug use. [2]

Those with a codeine addiction may often appear docile or sedated.

Signs and symptoms include:

• Dizziness
• Blurring vision
• Pinpoint pupils
• Slow breathing
• Itching
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Lethargy

When used to escape feelings of stress and depression, codeine can become psychologically addictive.

As a mood-altering substance, codeine can also contribute to depression and anxiety, consequently making mental health worse.

Like any other opiate, codeine is physically addictive.

If a user stops taking the drug withdrawal will set in as their body relearns how to operate normally again without the drug in its system.

Acute psychosis has been linked to codeine. See case report.

Lower blood pressure, abnormal breathing, kidney failure, liver failure, indigestion and bleeding from the stomach can all be fatal side effects of codeine use.

Remember, codeine is a depressant that slows a person’s breathing rate. In large doses, this can stop breathing entirely.