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What Is Codeine?

a close up of a prescription bottle of codeine in a doctor's gloved hand

Modern medical science has made our lives more comfortable and allows us to live longer than ever. Through medication, people can find relief from physical pain, ease mental health symptoms, and recover from surgery much faster. What is codeine, and how can it help? Codeine is an effective painkiller that is very popular around the globe. It also has a high rate of abuse and can cause painful withdrawal symptoms that require an opioid addiction treatment program to detox from codeine safely.

At Swift River, our therapists and medical staff have experience treating addiction to codeine, heroin, and polysubstance abuse. Men and women will work with therapists individually to discover the root cause of their addiction. They will also participate in group therapy to practice coping skills and get a new perspective on how others cope with addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to codeine or other substances, call 413.570.9698 today to speak with our compassionate staff about making positive life changes.

What Is Codeine?

Codeine is an opioid pain reliever that is effective in treating mild to moderate pain and can be found in some cough and cold medications. It comes from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum, which is common in China and Southeast Asia. An important codeine fact to remember is that it comes with a high risk of addiction. Patients will need to work closely with their doctor to minimize the risk of forming a dependence or addiction to codeine.

If you care for someone who is using codeine and you are worried they are abusing the medication, here are some of the signs of codeine addiction:

  • Drowsiness
  • Itchy skin
  • Constipation
  • Stomach cramps
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea

For patients who abuse codeine for an extended period of time, symptoms can include depression, anxiety, muscle spasms, liver or kidney damage, and death. At Swift River, our treatment programs are very effective in helping patients break their addiction and lead healthy and sober lives. Our patients gain the confidence and skills they need to maintain their sobriety no matter what life throws at them.

Codeine Information to Benefit Your Addiction Recovery

You can find plenty of codeine information online about the dangers of codeine addiction and available resources in your area. While there is no cure for addiction, there are several evidence-based treatment programs available to aid in the recovery process.

Here are some codeine facts that you should be aware of:

  1. Codeine is an opiate similar to Oxycodone, heroin, and morphine. Its street names include Cody, captain Cody, little c, and school boy.
  2. Patients who abuse their codeine prescriptions are more likely to switch to harder drugs once they are unable to fill their prescriptions.
  3. There are currently 142 million prescriptions for codeine in the U.S. today.
  4. In 2019, over 70% of drug-related deaths were from opioids.
  5. Opioid withdrawal symptoms peak between 48-72 hours, which is when most people will relapse and potentially overdose if they try to detox alone.

Join Swift River for Our Effective Opioid Addiction Treatment Program

What is codeine, and how likely are you to form an addiction? At Swift River, we will answer all of your questions about codeine and how our treatment programs can help you or a loved one recover from opioid addiction. We use a combination of behavioral and holistic therapies along with medication-assisted treatment for an effective program that helps patients reach their recovery goals.

Today is the perfect time to make a life-changing decision and enroll in our addiction treatment facility. Call 413.570.9698 or fill out our online form today to schedule an appointment and begin your new life free from drugs and alcohol.

Contact Swift River Now

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