Codeine

Codeine is available usually as Tablets, oral liquid, and sometimes in injectable ampoules for intra-muscular administration.

Desired Effects:

Calmness, reduced anxiety, relaxation, pain relief.

Side Effects:

Drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, nausea & sickness, itching and flushing of the skin, constipation.

Long term risks:

Physical and psychological Dependence with repeated use. Many codeine preparations contain analgesics such as paracetamol, which in high doses can be toxic to the liver.

Short term risks:

Tolerance, accidents, overdose. As with dihydrocodeine, intravenous administration should be avoided, as it could result in damage to veins and circulation, fluid on the lungs which can be very dangerous, and a serious allergic reaction that can result in death.

Opiate. Central nervous system depressant, Analgesic, cough suppressant, sedative.

Codeine is an opiate drug found naturally in the opium poppy. Codeine is usually available as tablets, oral liquid, and sometimes in injectable ampoules for intra-muscular administration.

Codeine is Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act (Class A if in injectable form). It is a prescription only medicine in higher doses, but lower doses found in some medicines which can be bought without prescription from pharmacies. In 2024 codeine linctus was made a prescription only medicine.

Tablets are swallowed orally. ‘Lean’ is sipped or drunk as a liquid. Codeine should not be injected intravenously (like Dihydrocodeine) - users who have attempted crushing tablets to inject report a painful experience. Injectable ampoules are for intra-muscular injection only.

If injected, prepared ampoules, needle, syringe.

Prescribed by a doctor to treat mild to moderate pain as well as coughing and shortness of breath. It can also be taken to treat diarrhoea. Small amounts of codeine can be combined with other medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin, for treating headaches etc. These can be in cough syrups, tablets or capsules and can be bought in pharmacies. They carry warnings on the packs about the risk of dependency. Other medicines codeine can be found in include Co-codamol.

Along with morphine, codeine is found naturally in the opium poppy. As a street drug in tablet form it is sometimes diverted from manufacturers, pharmacies, or GPs prescriptions. There are a number of ‘street’ methods used for extracting codeine from pharmacy preparations.

Codeine users can access support from 'street agencies' or projects, sometimes called community drug services or community drug teams, which offer a range of services including information and advice, counselling, detoxification and prescribing for opiate users, needle exchanges and sometimes support groups and other services such as acupuncture. Some may have extended opening hours and may be open at weekends. GPs and hospitals can make referrals to specialist drug services like Drug Dependency Units (DDUs). These are usually located in or adjacent to a hospital and specialise in helping problem drug users, especially people who are physically dependent. They provide counselling, detoxification, substitute prescribing and other treatments. Residential services offer treatment programmes for heavily dependent drug users who are trying to give up. Residents must usually be drug free on admission which means they usually have to undergo detoxification before entry. Programmes usually last 3-6 months, but some 12 steps programmes last longer. The types of programmes vary. Self help groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) co-ordinate local support groups for problem drug users around the country. Families Anonymous run similar groups for the families of drug users.

Parents & other relatives

Drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents of people using these drugs. Many street agencies can provide relative support groups or counselling for family members, partners etc.