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The cost-of-living crisis and years of government cuts to addiction services have created fertile ground for substance addiction in the UK. People are taking drugs to cope with challenging emotions and pacify their troubled minds. As most Class A and Class B drugs like heroin and cocaine are out of reach for most people, there is a rise in consumption of Class C drugs like codeine.

Unlike the highs of cocaine and heroin, codeine mostly has a numbing effect. In higher doses, it can provide euphoric sensations and soothe the minds of people trying to fight off challenging emotions. However, ultimately, codeine addiction leads to a rise in consumption, and the addict becomes asocial, insufferable, mentally unfit, and physically healthy.

Due to the relative ease of procurement compared to Class A drugs, codeine addiction is rampant in the UK. Although it has impacted many lives in the worst way possible, many stories of drug addiction recovery show that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Why is Codeine Addiction Dangerous for Society?

Codeine addiction is dangerous for society because people quickly get hooked on this drug very easily. In many cases, people start taking codeine as prescribed by a medical professional. But slowly, they start experiencing its soothing and numbing effects. Eventually, many prescription users start taking codeine even when it is no longer prescribed to them. Finally, the addicts start loving how codeine takes away all their hurt and pain, both physical and mental.

Codeine sucks people into its cocoon that promises mental peace, happiness and a release from the pressure of daily life. Unfortunately, for many people, codeine becomes an entry point into the world of drugs. When the effects of codeine are on the wane, addicts start looking for more potent opioids and other drugs to achieve similar results.

As codeine is more accessible than other drugs and does not have the same stigma attached to it as cocaine or heroin, it has become hazardous for society. However, we can take inspiration from many recovery stories that point to the fact that codeine addiction can be defeated with perseverance, care, and the proper treatment.

Stories of Hope and Resilience

Many stories of hope and resilience point to the fact that codeine addiction can be defeated.

Kate’s Story of Extreme Codeine Addiction

A former addict Kate Murray narrates how she found herself entrapped in codeine addiction. When prescribed codeine as a painkiller at the age of 19, she developed a strong bond with the drug. The reason: codeine helped her numb negative emotions related to sexual trauma that she suffered.

Eventually, Kate started taking higher doses of codeine to cope with the negative emotions that constantly troubled her. Her dosage crept up to a whopping 90 tablets per day – a significant rise considered deadly by health experts.

In her story, Kate attributes the ease of availability of codeine as the main reason for her addiction. She also says that even when she tried to win over her addiction by going cold turkey, her body could not withstand the withdrawal symptoms. Eventually, she resumed taking the drugs and did not quit until 2020, when she realized the damage the drug had done to her body.

Now, Kate attends counseling and engages with the codeine recovery community to pass on the knowledge she has garnered during her struggles with addiction.

The Story of a Doctor Struggling with Addiction

A doctor shares his experience of struggling with codeine and alcohol addiction. In his story, the doctor says that initially, he suffered from alcohol addiction and couldn’t find a way to let go of it. But after much effort, he was able to abstain for a while. In his battle against addiction, he chose codeine to overcome alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, after giving up alcohol, he started struggling with codeine addiction.

Such was his level of addiction that the doctor started writing prescriptions using the name of his patients to procure codeine from the pharmacy. The easy availability of codeine fed his addiction, and the number of pills consumed increased considerably.

At a certain point in life, the doctor realized his mistake and entered a rehabilitation program. The rehab was a success, and finally, the doctor got rid of his codeine addiction. The doctor attributes the success of his rehab stint to the expertise of the doctors. But even more importantly, he says that the respect that he got from the rehab staff and their non-judgmental nature was the reason for the overall success of the rehabilitation program.

Final Thoughts

Codeine dependency can be debilitating for most individuals. As codeine takes over their lives, the addicts struggle to connect with society and find it hard to make a comeback. However, many success stories serve as guiding lights to those still struggling in their battle with codeine addiction. In the stories we shared through this article, we can clearly see that with the right attitude and access to a good rehabilitation clinic (with a skillful and respectful staff), it is possible to beat this addiction and live a healthy life.