Codeine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain medicines. It is used to treat mild to moderate pain and is sometimes included as an ingredient in cough mixtures in South Africa. It falls in the opiate category of drugs and is related to morphine and heroin. Just like other opiates codeine can be habit-forming and should only be used under medical supervision. It should never be used by somebody who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep codeine in a secure place away from the reach of children and uninformed persons.

Do not drink alcohol while you are using codeine as this can produce dangerous side effects or even death. Similarly do not use more than the dose your doctor has prescribed. If you find that the dose is too small rather let your doctor know than taking more without consultation. Codeine can make you drowsy so you should not use drive or otherwise do anything that requires you to be alert. It is possible to develop dependence on codeine and you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue using it suddenly. Admission to a detox program in a drug rehab can help to make these withdrawal symptoms more manageable.

Do not take codeine with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.

Codeine is usually quite easy to obtain as it is contained in a number of medications. Even over the counter medication may contain low doses of codeine and prescription drugs may have a much higher codeine content. Many of the people who arrive at drug rehab in South Africa for codeine addiction treatment report drinking a whole bottle of cough syrup at a time in order to get a codeine "high". Because the cough syrup has a low codeine content they drink a whole bottle at a time.

People abuse codeine because it has the same euphoric effect that the other opiates like heroin and morphine have. People addicted to codeine will drink large quantities of cough syrup or by using lots of painkiller pills that have codeine in them. Abusing codeine in this manner is dangerous and the person is at high risk of developing dependence and addiction. Physical symptoms are likely to present as a result of high doses of codeine. You will be assessmed by a medical doctor at a drug rehabilitation (rehab) clinic prior to being treated. This will allow the physical health risks to be controlled.

Treatment for codeine is similar to the treating other opiod addictions. Admission to a medically supervised detoxification (detox) clinic will help the user to manage the negative withdrawal symptoms. Treatment in a drug rehab in South Africa will help to address the psychological dependence. If left untreated codeine addiction will get worse and worse and could even lead to death. Effective drug rehabilitation can help the addict to find addiction recovery and lead a fulfilling life.