What Is Codeine and How Can You Identify if a Loved One Has a Problem?

Over 100 people lose their lives every day because of their addiction to opioids.

With the American Opioid Crisis still destroying lives across the country, you might even find that someone you know has become victimized by addiction.

The truth is that addiction, especially to opioids, doesn’t discriminate.

In fact, it can often start with a simple prescription given to you or a loved one by a doctor.

Codeine is a commonly-prescribed opioid that’s found in cough syrup, pain medication, and much more.

But what is codeine, and what makes it so addictive in the first place?

Keep on reading this post in order to find out.

We’ll also discuss how you can recognize the signs and symptoms of a codeine addiction, and we’ll tell you where you can go to get the help that you need.

What Is Codeine?

Before we talk more about the signs and symptoms of codeine addiction, let’s make sure that you’re clear on what it is.

The truth is that you’ve likely been prescribed codeine yourself at least once in your life.

It’s a popular painkiller that’s present in cough syrup, is given after surgeries like wisdom teeth removal, and even helps you to treat the flu.

However, it’s also a powerful — and especially addictive — opioid. This is because it actually interacts with your body’s perception of pain. This means that you’ll feel euphoric, “high,” and seriously calm.

Your body actually concerts at least a tiny portion of the compounds in codeine into morphine. This also leads to a seriously high pain tolerance.

After all, codeine pills rev up the “reward” function of the brain, which means that the brain’s neurotransmitters go into overdrive. In short, users feel incredibly good — until they don’t anymore.

Not only is it incredibly easy for your body to get used to codeine, it also comes with one of the most awful and intense set of withdrawal symptoms possible, even when compared with “street drugs.”

It’s also incredibly easy to die from codeine syrup, lean syrup, or pretty much anything containing it — especially if you mix it with alcohol.

The withdrawal can cause nausea, psychosis, suicidal and other dangerous thoughts, and even agonizing cramps.

It can lead to hallucinations, increased anger, muscle spams, and even chills and sweats.

But before it gets to that point?

We know that you want to learn the signs of an addiction to codeine pills.

Let’s discuss them now.

Common Signs of a Codeine Addiction

First, let’s talk about some of the more physical signs of a codeine addiction.

Often, these are the ones that you’ll be able to notice first, especially if an addict lives in your home with you.

They can include blueness in the extremities, especially on the mouth or the lips. In some cases, the addict may experience frequent seizures. They may also be throwing up with an alarming frequency.

In some cases, you may realize that they seem restless, especially at night. It seems like they barely sleep anymore.

The same thing goes if you notice that the pupils of their eyes are seriously contracted, and that their breathing seems to have gotten slow and shallow.

Do they seem much more confused than usual? Have you noticed that they haven’t eaten as much as they normally do, or that they seem to have lost a lot of weight in a short period of time?

This is a huge clue that something may be wrong.

If they frequently complain about the cold temperature, and if their hands feel clammy?

This is a common sign of addiction as well.

Other Symptoms

Of course, the signs of addiction aren’t always physical.

Has your loved one been calling you to ask for money lately — or have you even noticed that cash and other valuables around the house seem to be vanishing?

Are they quick to anger, have you noticed that they seem to have trouble remembering things, and do they need reminding about basic responsibilities?

This is certainly something to be aware of.

You should also take note of a withdrawal from their social life.

Are they hanging out with a new, secretive group of people that you really don’t know too much about? Have they stopped going into work? Missing out on family meetings and events?

If so, they could be attempting to hide their addiction from you.

Finally, ask yourself whether or not you’ve noticed a serious increase in the number of doctor’s appointments the possible addict seems to be going to.

They could be participating in what’s known as doctor shopping.

This means that they’re seeing lots of different doctors so that they can get access to even more codeine than is legal.