OPIATES – CODEINE

Opiates And Codeine Addiction Treatment

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Codeine

We have all heard the name before, but what is codeine, and what is codeine used for? Codeine is a prescription pain medication. Codeine medicine comes in multiple forms. Codeine is typically prescribed in tablets and is also the main ingredient in many prescription-strength cough syrups. It’s also one half (acetaminophen is the other half) of the common pain reliever Tylenol 3.

Understanding Codeine Addiction

Codeine is part of the class of drugs known as opiates. Oxycodone, morphine, and heroin are other common opiates. Most people who abuse codeine started using it innocently. Prescriptions for cough syrups containing codeine are common. Since it isn’t considered as dangerous as some other opiates, it’s often less regulated. This makes obtaining and abusing codeine easy.

Side Effects of Codeine Abuse

Even though it is less potent, codeine creates effects that are similar to morphine. The belief that this common prescription painkiller is less dangerous than other drugs often instills a false sense of confidence. It can lead you to believe that you are safe. It is not as bad as other drugs, and your doctor prescribed it.

Following these thought patterns can have dangerous and even deadly consequences. Like other opiates, codeine is addictive. Short-term use of codeine produces euphoria, apathy, drowsiness, and relaxation. But these often will not last for long.

There are many possible short and long-term side effects of codeine abuse. Some of the most common are:

• Headaches
• Stomach pains
• Trouble urinating
• Agitation
• Fevers and sweats
• Confusion
• Fast heartbeats
• Severe muscle stiffness or twitching
• Coordination loss
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Weakness or dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• Noisy or shallow breathing
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Rash, itching, or hives
• Changes in vision
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

The list of potential side effects alone tells us that this opiate is more serious than many of us are led to believe. Codeine should only be taken when closely and cautiously following a prescription. Increasing your dose, obtaining codeine illegally, or otherwise abusing the drug can lead to troubling mental and physical health consequences.

If you’ve experienced intense or painful side effects, contact your primary care physician. They may need to adjust your prescription. If you are ready to get ahead of these side effects before they get worse, that’s where we can help.

Our care programs are designed to meet a wide range of addictions and needs. This includes co-occurring disorders – substance abuse, coupled with an underlying mental health condition. The two are linked, almost more often than not.

Mental Illness and Codeine

Dual diagnoses are common in the world of addiction health. Research tells us that almost half of all individuals with a mental illness also experience a substance use disorder at some point. It’s not always clear which one came first. Drug and alcohol addictions can lead to mental health disorders. Or mental health disorders can lead to drug and alcohol addictions.

Many people with undiagnosed mental health disorders will turn to substance abuse to cope and ease their symptoms. This is common in anxiety and depression, among many others. Dual diagnoses often involve bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD, and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Codeine and Other Opiates

Codeine is often considered to be a gateway to more dangerous opiates. Morphine, oxycodone, and heroin are the next steps for many codeine users. Graduating to something stronger or mixing it with other substances can be very dangerous. This is particularly true when you are mixing codeine and alcohol.

Since they are both central nervous system depressants, ingesting them together often leads to a dangerous level of depression or respiratory failure. Multiple simultaneous addictions make it even harder for you to recover at home. We can help you address your drug abuse, even if there are multiple drugs or other substances involved.

Codeine-based cough syrup is the main ingredient in the recreational cocktail “lean.” Lean drink is made from cough syrup and other ingredients that help make it taste better. Soda and fruity hard candies are common. It has also been called purple drank and sizzurp, among others, in recent pop culture references.

Famous rapper, Lil’ Wayne, was admitted to the hospital in 2013 due to seizures from having dangerously high levels of codeine in his system. He was in critical condition for a time, and doctors had to pump his stomach three times. This speaks volumes about the dangers of mixing this opiate with other substances and ingesting it at higher levels than recommended.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment

If your addiction is moderate or severe, inpatient care may be the better option for you. This is also true if you require a medical detox, have multiple addictions, or need dual diagnosis care. No other treatment method can match the 24-hour care and support of inpatient programs.

From the day you arrive, you’ll have access to medical care, physical and emotional support, and various proven therapeutic techniques and remedies. You will attend a variety of therapy sessions, enjoy healthy meals, and share in support groups.

You will learn how to manage your stress and addiction, build healthy habits, and enjoy recreational activities, too. Supervised outings, downtime, and exercise classes will round out your program. We will build this program based on the severity and type of addiction, along with your personal needs and preferences.

Additional Treatment Options

Each of our programs is patient-focused and customized. We will work with you to develop the best plan to meet your needs. Supplemental and outpatient programs are available if you have a milder addiction or limitations that make an inpatient stay impossible.

These limitations might be a job you cannot leave, school, or caring for children or family members. Inpatient programs tend to happen in increments of 30 days, 60, 90, or more. If this is not an option for you, we’ll work with you to see which program better suits your needs.

Intensive outpatient programs or IOPs are an excellent alternative. You will continue to live at home, attend to daily responsibilities, and spend nine to 20 hours in one of our facilities each week. You will attend therapy sessions, support groups, and addiction management sessions before returning home. This type of program is often used as an addiction health stepping stone between inpatient and outpatient care programs. It offers you both support and freedom.

Traditional outpatient programs are similar to IOPs. They make use of many of the same therapeutic techniques, but they are less intensive. They require an average of four hours per week in the facility instead of nine to 20.

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) may also be an option. Call us today for more information. We will walk you through the details of each program. We will begin an intake that will help us determine the best program for you. And we will perform a fast and free insurance verification for you, too.

Resurgence Behavioral Health

Getting help for your codeine addiction is easier than it has ever been before. You do not have to face your addiction alone. We are stronger together. Resurgence offers addiction health care that works.

You do not have to worry about cookie-cutter programs or checklists here. Each patient, addiction, and the program is unique, and we treat them that way. See the difference that patient-driven, dedicated care can make in your life.