Codeine addiction is a very serious and sometimes life threatening dilemma. Not only is it difficult for the addict, it is extremely hard on those around them who care about them. For the addict, admitting they have an addiction problem can be difficult.
However painful this may be, it must be acknowledged as the first gradient to overcoming the problem. The next hurdle is being willing to seek & accept help from an addiction professional. It can be hard for an addict to confront the fact that they can not do it alone. Once this fact is accepted, it is time to seek the appropriate professional treatment. Drug rehab programs based on the social education modality are highly successful. This means that individuals who are recovering from Codeine addiction are not made wrong for their past indiscretions, but are taught how to avoid future ones. They are provided with knowledge on how to change their lives and how to live comfortably without Codeine. Receiving treatment for addiction should be done in a safe & stable environment that is conducive to addiction recovery. Research studies show that residential treatment programs of at least 3 months in duration have the best success rates. 3 months may seem like a long time, but one day in the life of an individual addicted to Codeine can feel like an eternity. Addiction is a self imposed hellish slavery. The chains can be broken people do it everyday. You can be free!
Drug rehabilitation is a multi-phase, multi-faceted, long term process. Detoxification is only the first
step on the road of addiction treatment. Physical detoxification alone is not sufficient to change
the patterns of a drug addict. Recovery from addiction involves an extended process which usually
requires the help of drug addiction professionals. To make a successful recovery, the addict needs new
tools in order to deal with situations and problems which arise. Factors such as encountering someone
from their days of using, returning to the same environment and places, or even small things such as
smells and objects trigger memories which can create psychological stress. This can hinder the addict's
goal of complete recovery, thus not allowing the addict to permanently regain control of his or her life.
Almost all addicts tell themselves in the beginning that they can conquer their addiction on their own
without the help of outside resources. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case.
When an addict makes an attempt at detoxification and to discontinue
drug use without the aid of professional help, statistically the results do not last long. Research into the
effects of long-term addiction has shown that substantial changes in the way the brain functions are present
long after the addict has stopped using drugs. Realizing that a drug addict who wishes to recover from their
addiction needs more than just strong will power is the key to a successful recovery. Battling not only cravings
for their drug of choice, re-stimulation of their past and changes in the way their brain functions, it is no
wonder that quitting drugs without professional help is an uphill battle.
As an organization we are dedicated to finding the correct solution for your specific addiction problem. Our referral list
contains over 3,000 resources which encompass the following treatment categories :
Codeine Detox Center
Codeine Rehab
Codeine Treatment
Codeine Addiction Treatment
Codeine Addiction Counseling
Meetings
Codeine In-Patient Treatment
Codeine Out-Patient Treatment
Q)
What is Codeine?
A) Codeine is a member of the drug class opiates. Opiates
include all naturally occurring drugs with morphine-like
effects such as codeine and all semi and fully synthetic
drugs with morphine-like effects such as heroin and meperidine
(Demerol).
Codeine
was first discovered as a natural constituent of opium
in very small concentrations, in the range of 0.7% - 2.5%
by weight. Most codeine found in pharmaceutical products
today is synthetically produced via the methylation of
morphine.
Q)
How is Codeine used?
A)
Codeine can be administered orally (PO), subcutaneously (SC),
intramuscularly (IM) and rectally (PR). Codeine cannot be safely
administered by an intravenous (IV) injection as it may result
in pulmonary oedema, facial swelling, dangerous release of histamines,
and various cardiovascular effects. It cannot be administered
intranasally (snorting). Codeine free base can be smoked on
the aluminum foil ("chasing the dragon") similarly
to smoking heroin.
Q)
What are the effects of Codeine addiction?
A)
Codeine is absorbed quickly from the GI tract and it's first
pass through the liver results in very little loss of the drug.
This contrasts with morphine in which over 90% of the drug is
metabolized in the first pass through the liver resulting in
a considerable loss of potency when administered orally.
Narcotics
induce an "opioid analgesia" by altering the perception
of pain at the spinal cord and brain. They also affect emotional
responses to pain. Opioids have stimulating effects as well
because they block inhibitory neurotransmitters. Repeated use
of these drugs can cause long-term changes in the way the nervous
system functions.
- stomach
bleeding
- kidney
damage
- liver
damage
- "itchies"
- constipation
- nausea
- hangover
- tiny
pupils
- blurred
vision
- poor
night vision
- impair
your ability to drive
- lowered
heart rate, blood pressure and breathing
- disorientation
- convulsions
- hallucinations
- depression
- sexual
problems
- agitation
- ,tremors
- seizures
Q)
What are the symptoms of withdrawal?
A)
The worst symptoms pass within a few days, but it can take months
to feel normal.
- runny
nose
- sweating
- muscle
twitching
- muscle
pain
- headaches
- irregular
heartbeat
- nausea
and vomiting
- high
blood pressure
- fever
- insomnia
- dehydration
- yawning
- weakness
- stomach
cramps
Q)
What is Codeine addiction?
A)
Addiction
is a major risk with prolonged use (over 2-3 weeks) of narcotics.
Even moderate doses of some narcotics can result in a fatal
overdose. When increasing doses of narcotics, the person may
first feel restless and nauseous and then progress to loss of
consciousness and abnormal breathing. Other risks include withdrawal
symptoms that may last for months.
Addictive
drugs activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise
of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the
drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug.
The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate brain reward
mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal
functioning of these systems can produce an addiction. Drugs
also reduce a person’s level of consciousness, harming
the ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.
