Codeine is the second most prevalent alkaloid in opium, but it is much more prominent in the opium poppy.  It is typically prescribed as one of the following:

• analgesic (painkilling)
• antitussive (cough suppressant)
• anti-diarrheal (self-explanatory)

Unfortunately, codeine is oftentimes used recreationally and tends to be very addictive when this is the case.  Normally, Codeine is not available for purchase without a prescription, but in some other countries, it is simply purchased over the counter which compounds the problem.  Despite this unavailability in the US, it is highly distributed and trafficked illegally on the streets along with so many other prescription medications.

Currently, the DEA does not consider it as a primary drug threat here in the US, but they still do caution people about its addictive potential and the withdrawal symptoms that you could experience when you discontinue using it.  Codeine is typically prescribed as either a syrup or a tablet.  However, its analgesic qualities are still the same based on dosage concentration when you are taking it.  However, the syrup is the more popular form of the two where recreational use is the consideration.

The effects of abuse

Despite its propensity for being used recreationally, the abuse of and addiction to Codeine oftentimes results from legitimate prescription use for the treatment of cough, diarrhea, and pain.  In these particular instances, the individual is not using Codeine recreationally.  However, the fact that it is highly available on the streets today makes it a popular for recreational use and abuse.  The euphoric effects that are produced and how it can numb emotional pain are the primary reasons that individuals abuse it.

As the addiction to the drug progresses, the individual typically finds themselves mentally obsessed and cravings for the drug continue to increase.  The body’s tolerance for Codeine builds quickly, and in some cases unnoticeably, that the individual begins to ingest larger doses of it in order to achieve the desired euphoric state or high that it produces.  Once the abuse and addiction have progressed to the point where it is very apparent to those around the person, it may become necessary to enter a codeine drug rehab for cure and recovery.

As the leading recovery and addiction treatment centers in the US, Delray Recovery Center currently offers effective codeine drug rehab programs.  We use alternative therapies that lean more towards using the modern, innovative therapies and have much higher success rates than others.  This is primarily due to the fact that the traditional therapies take a one-size-fits-all approach to addiction treatment and recovery which does not work effectively.