Is Codeine Addictive? The Truth Behind Codeine Dependency
If you have clicked on this blog, you must be wondering ‘Is codeine addictive?’. The world of medical science has made a lot of developments. Today, there is a cure for almost every disease and ailment. One such cure for pain, sleeplessness, and cough is a medicine called codeine. However, the most common question related to codeine is: is codeine addictive? Research conducted in 2022 by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health confirmed that a total of 19.8 million people started the use of codeine from the age of 12. Out of this, 1.8 million people have misused codeine as a recreational means. Another study suggests that 4.7% to 67% of the student population in the United States abuse medicines to attain recreational intoxication. In such circumstances, one might have many questions like: is codeine addictive? How is codeine addictive? Is codeine addictive compared to other drugs? Is codeine addictive if the use is short-term? In this blog, we will discuss each of these questions in detail. What is codeine? In the world of painkillers and pain suppressants, codeine is one of the most popular and commonly prescribed opioids. Derived from the opium poppy plant, codeine belongs to the family which is a class of opiate narcotic prescription medicines. The fact that the class of opiates also includes other highly addictive drugs such as Hydrocodone, Vicodin, Demorol heroine, and OxyContin, makes codeine a controversial drug. Codeine helps treat mild and moderate levels of pain, cough, problems related to the digestive system like diarrhea, and sometimes even sleeplessness. Codeine is a drug that is prescribed by certified medical professionals because it’s addictive and habit-forming. However, the burning question is: is codeine addictive? To understand the answer to this question, we must understand what codeine abuse is first. The next section will discuss the factors that amount to codeine abuse. What is codeine abuse? Codeine abuse is the practice of using codeine for recreational purposes. It is to be noted that codeine abuse is different from codeine addiction. Regular abuse of codeine may lead to codeine addiction. It is no secret that when a person has codeine addiction, they crave the use of codeine without giving much thought to its consequences. Codeine abuse is the first step towards codeine and other types of drug addictions. When an individual starts abusing codeine for a recreational ‘high’, they might develop a tolerance to codeine. Codeine tolerance means that an individual will require high doses of the drug for them to be effective. This is potentially dangerous and fatal as it can lead to codeine overdose. People who abuse codeine find it impossible to handle their personal and professional lives. Codeine abuse not only has side effects, but it also comes with nasty withdrawal symptoms when the use of codeine is stopped. Unfortunately, people who abuse codeine and use it as a means of recreation come up with creative ways to abuse this drug. Some people mix this drug with alcohol while some make a ‘codeine cocktail’ and add sweeteners before consuming it. This is a problematic behavior that paves the way to not only codeine addiction but addiction to other drugs as well. This is because people with addictions are always chasing a ‘recreational high’ and replicating the intoxication with other means. How is codeine addictive? Codeine is a drug that doctors may prescribe for pain, coughing, and sleeplessness. Short-term use of codeine under the close supervision of a doctor is generally safe. However, the drug can lead to dependence and addiction. In some cases, people may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it. Codeine is a type of drug that belongs to a family of opioid narcotics. It is used as a painkiller and as a treatment for cough and sleeplessness. This drug is available in 2 forms, i.e., liquid and tablet forms. A short and simple answer to the question ‘Is codeine addictive’ is yes. People who take codeine are vulnerable to addictions like several other opioids. Therefore, codeine is no exception to other opioids that are highly addictive. In simple terms, codeine addiction is caused by a feeling of intoxication and pleasure that can be felt after taking this medicine. Individuals might want to indulge in problematic behavior to reach a state of intoxication. Additionally, some users of codeine also keep using this medicine to avoid the withdrawal symptoms that they might feel after ceasing the use of codeine. Why is codeine addictive and what are the causes of codeine addiction? Codeine is highly addictive because it affects the central nervous system (CNS). When an individual ingests codeine, this drug facilitates the reward-releasing hormones of the brain. This gives a feeling of intoxication, euphoria, and pleasure in the brain. An individual, after using codeine recreationally, tries to replicate this feeling of intoxication, euphoria, and pleasure as much as they can. As a result, an individual starts craving codeine which eventually leads to an addiction. Having said that, codeine is not addictive as long as the individual strictly adheres to the advice of the medical professional in terms of dosage and frequency of taking this drug. Use of codeine becomes problematic when bonafide use of this drug turns into codeine abuse by exceeding either the recommended frequency or dosage or both. Now that we have discussed ‘why is codeine addictive?’, it is important to dwell on the causes of codeine addiction. Just like any other addiction, codeine addiction is a result of several factors that contribute to that specific addiction. The following factors can be attributed to the causes of codeine addiction: 1. Genetic Factors It is no secret that any type of addiction and substance use disorders are dependent on genetic factors in combination with various other factors. Similarly, codeine is no exception. If a parent or any other first-degree relative of an individual is suffering from an addiction or a substance use disorder, chances are there that that particular individual might develop an addiction as well.