Codeine Addiction Treatment

When taken as prescribed, codeine can effectively treat moderate pain. But when this medically-useful drug is abused, dangerous codeine addiction is frequently the result. For help in overcoming the codeine addiction affecting you or your loved one, call Treatment Solutions Network today at 877-417-6237.

What is codeine?

Codeine, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, is a alkaloid found in opium and produced from morphine. It is typically prescribed by doctors to treat moderate pain. Codeine products that are found on the illicit market are often combined with other drugs such as glutethimide and carisoprodol.

What other names is codeine known by?

Street names for codeine include cough syrup, schoolboy and T-three's (Tylenol^® #3 with codeine).

How is codeine taken?

Codeine is typically taken orally, as either a tablet of pure codeine or a pill that combines aspirin or acetaminophen with codeine. Codeine is also found in a number of liquid cough suppressants and, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is used to a lesser extent as an injectable solution for the treatment of pain.

How widespread is codeine use?

According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, roughly 4.7 million Americans reported non-medical use of prescription pain relievers - a category that includes codeine. This figure represents roughly 2 percent of the U.S. population aged 12 or older.

What are codeine's short term effects?

The short-term effects from codeine are milder than from some other prescription pain relievers, but codeine is still a drug that can be very addictive and difficult to quit. The short-term effects experienced by codeine users include:

Pain relief
Sedation
Respiratory depression

What are codeine's long-term effects?

Over time, codeine addiction poses significant health risks. These include:

Dependence
Tolerance - forcing the user to consume higher doses to achieve the same high as before
Those higher doses increase the risk of a harmful overdose that can cause liver failure, slow heartbeat, and troubled or slowed breathing.
Difficult withdrawal symptoms experienced by long-term users who try to quit, requiring opiate detox.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network estimates that prescription opiates - a category that includes codeine - accounted for 119,185 emergency-room visits in 2002. For more information about receiving treatment for codeine related addictions call us now at 877-417-6237.

What are the risks of codeine addiction during pregnancy?

Codeine addiction can cause serious harm to unborn babies during pregnancy. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, codeine use by pregnant women has been linked to fetal physical dependence, withdrawal, and growth retardation. Stronger warnings have been issued for use of codeine during breastfeeding.

Why is codeine addiction so hard to overcome?

Because codeine is legal, there are many codeine addicts who underestimate how addictive and dangerous the drug can be. Another key reason many codeine addicts can't quit: the difficult withdrawal symptoms experienced by long-term users who try to stop.

Withdrawal symptoms associated with codeine addiction include:

Nausea
Muscle/bone aches
Cold sweats
Insomnia

Withdrawal symptoms tend to peak at around 48-72 hours after the last codeine dose, with symptoms then fading quickly.

Codeine addiction treatment can help

During the difficult detox process, codeine addiction treatment makes a BIG difference - with around-the-clock medical care that included medicines specially designed to ease uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

As a free referral service, Treatment Solutions Network takes the guesswork out of finding a high-quality codeine addiction rehab center. All of the drug rehab centers in our network exceed industry standards, and our recommendations are based solely on your individual needs - we are not affiliated with any one facility.

Don't let codeine addiction put your life or the life of your loved one in danger. Call Treatment Solutions Network today at 877-417-6237.

No matter your insurance, be it Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross / Blue Shield (BCBS), Assurant, Unicare, United Health Care, Anthem, Carefirst, Asuris Northwest Health, Golden Rule, Celtic Insurance, Fortis, Health Net, Kaiser, Vista, Shelter, Wellpoint, Tri Care, Accordia or even Medicare, and state insurance - we can help you find codeine addiction treatment. We also offer many affordable self pay options as well as luxury codeine rehab.