Codeine Addiction | Signs, Symptoms & Effects

Opiates, like codeine, work by depressing the central nervous system to relieve pain. However, once opiates have entered the central nervous system, they reinforce the reward system within the brain, causing an excessive amount of pleasurable hormones to be released. It is this desired feeling that people chase when abusing codeine.

If codeine is abused, people can experience feelings of relaxation, well-being, and contentment. The pleasant feelings induced by the substance can cause a person to take more of the substance, even if it is no longer required. Similar to other opiate drugs, codeine can cause changes in your brain’s functioning.

The brain creates balance when it identifies a change. So, after prolonged codeine abuse, your brain will begin to adapt to the chemical changes and imbalances, and you will no longer feel ‘normal’ without the presence of the substance.

An addiction to codeine is also characterised by the impulsive and compulsive need to use the drug despite negative consequences to one’s life. Codeine addiction is a brain disease, and when you have lost control over your use of codeine, formal medical healthcare treatment is needed to manage and control codeine use.

Codeine addiction is an ongoing problem in the UK; this is partly due to its easy access and being over-prescribed by medical professionals. Understanding the full extent of codeine addiction and abuse in the UK is difficult. However, statistics show that in 2021, there were two hundred codeine-related deaths.

Aside from codeine-specific related statistics, prescription opioids as a whole pose a massive danger to health care within the UK. In 2016, the UK was the second greatest consumer of codeine. While opioids are an essential aspect of pain relief in many different circumstances, it must be remembered that they are dangerous drugs with a high potential for dependence and addiction.

Detecting codeine addiction in loved ones is difficult as they often conceal their abuse:

While these signs are useful, the best thing to do is have an open conversation with your loved one, making sure to let them know that your concern comes from a place of love and support. If you aren’t sure if your loved one has a codeine addiction, you can speak with a member of our team to get help.

There are many long-term effects of prolonged codeine consumption. Of course, dependence and addiction can develop very quickly and are often catastrophic for the person and their loved ones. Additionally, with the abuse of any drug, the problematic use of codeine runs the risk of an overdose.

There are three key symptoms to spot if you believe you or someone you love is experiencing an overdose, commonly referred to as the ‘opioid overdose triad’: pinpoint pupils, lack of consciousness, and respiratory depression. Other symptoms of an overdose include seizures or muscle spasms. If you do notice any of these symptoms after taking codeine, it is important to instantly contact emergency services to prevent an overdose from becoming fatal.

Excessive codeine use also causes an increased tolerance. Similar to dependence, tolerance develops when a person regularly partakes in the abuse of the same substance, meaning that you need to take more and more to achieve the effects you once experienced with a smaller dose.

If you or someone you love is struggling with codeine addiction, then it is important to seek codeine rehab as soon as possible. At Linwood House, we support people to begin their recovery journey and have aided people in overcoming their addictions. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your loved one overcome your codeine addiction.