Codeine is an opioid painkiller used to treat mild to moderate pain such as backache and diarrhoea. The drug is legal in the United Kingdom and is either prescribed (for higher dosages) or sold over the counter (for lower dosages) as cough medicines or in pill forms.

It should only be used for short periods of time, as long-term use of the opiate can lead to a tolerance of the drug and cause codeine addiction which requires treatment in a rehab centre.

Popular brands of painkillers containing codeine include Nurofen Plus and Co-codamol, and the drug is generally combined with other drugs such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Used as a painkiller, codeine works in the central nervous system and brain to block pain signals to the rest of the body, reducing anxiety and helping users to feel relaxed. Despite its popularity and perceived mild potency as an opioid, codeine can become highly addictive with long-term use and by intakes of doses larger than advised.

Signs of Codeine Addiction

Substance abuse of codeine medication can become apparent if the user has built a tolerance to the effects of the drug over a long period of use and needs or seeks a larger quantity to feel the same benefits.

If users continue to take codeine for a long period or for more than four days at a time, a tolerance to the drug is developed, leading to codeine addiction. Some chronic users have been known to crush up codeine tablets and ingest and/or inject the drug. This helps users to experience a sense of euphoria similar to the sensation experienced from heroin use.

The main sign of codeine addiction is the experience of withdrawal symptoms. If symptoms such as sweating, shaking, nausea or a loss of appetite are experienced when codeine use is stopped for a period of time, it is extremely likely that the user has a substance abuse problem. It is important to seek medical help if any of these signs are experienced, and Ocean Recovery Centre provides a prescription drug rehab programme for help.

Codeine addiction can impact a user’s physical and emotional state and behaviour, as well as cause some psychological symptoms such as hallucinations and memory loss.

As is typical with opiates, the user can experience overpowering feelings of euphoria from the drug which is then followed by depression and anxiety upon stopping use. This can cause unpredictable mood swings and change the personality of the user who will need detoxification treatment to overcome their codeine addiction.

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Admissions to Rehab

For people seeking treatment for codeine addiction, Ocean Recovery Centre will undertake an initial assessment of the user to determine the severity of their addiction and their needs for treatment. The assessment takes place entirely over the phone and after an initial discussion, the patient will then receive a date to enter Ocean Recovery in person.

Upon arrival at our rehab centre, residents will receive a full physical and psychological medical examination by a qualified staff member to determine the treatment plan and needs of the person suffering from codeine addiction.

The clinical team at Ocean Recovery will then create a personalised treatment plan which is designed to meet the likely challenges that clients may face during their rehabilitation treatment. Private alcohol and drug rehab is the best place to recover from prescription drug addiction – get in touch today.

What Happens at Codeine Rehab at Ocean Recovery?

The first stage of codeine rehabilitation is the codeine detox process. The patient will be treated by the team at Ocean Recovery for their withdrawal symptoms and will receive 24/7 medical attention throughout this detox period. Patients may be prescribed medications designed to reduce the withdrawal symptoms such as Subutex to make the transition as comfortable as possible for the patient.

As rehab at Ocean Recovery is residential, clients have meals and cleaning provided by the centre’s support staff, enabling the full attention of each patient to be solely on recovery and wellbeing. The needs of each individual are monitored, and treatment is personalised to ensure patients find the detoxification process as comfortable as possible.

Our Rehab Facilities

At Ocean Recovery, we are extremely proud of our state-of-the-art facility. We provide residents with the most relaxing stay possible and they can enjoy our modern establishment.

Ocean Recovery Facilities include:

CQC Registered

FREE Transportation Included

Medically Assisted Detoxification

2 Executive, Sea View Double Ensuite Rooms

 8 Double or Single Ensuite Rooms

3 Single Rooms with Dedicated Separate Bathroom

Comfortable Communal Lounge with Piano & Sky TV

Beautiful Modern Dining Lounge

External Courtyard and Outside Seating Area

12 Months FREE Aftercare

Regular Contact with Loved Ones Encouraged

Large Multi-Purpose Group Activity Room with Superb Sea Views

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Common Codeine Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal period is necessary to flush out the toxins from a codeine user’s system and can be difficult to manage without professional medical support in rehab. Particularly during the acute withdrawal phase of drug detox, symptoms can be hard to manage. The staff are available 24/7 to provide medical attention to patients during this period and are able to prescribe medications to ease the detox withdrawal.

Withdrawal symptoms of codeine detox include:

  • Nausea
  • Breathing problems
  • Itching
  • Vomiting
  • Depression
  • Abdominal pain
  • Headache

Therapy for Codeine Addiction

Once the detox period has concluded, clients are encouraged to attend therapy and counselling services to address the psychological effects of codeine addiction. Ocean Recovery employs medical professionals who aim to treat the mental aspect of codeine addiction, helping residents achieve long-term recovery.

Rehab aims to treat not just the physical but also the mental aspect of codeine addiction. Therapy sessions take place in group settings which allows patients to mix and learn from other codeine addicts. Therapy also takes place through one-to-one sessions with a qualified therapist for a more intense version of psychotherapy which allows the therapist to determine the root psychological triggers of the patient’s codeine addiction.

The therapy offered at the rehab facility provides clients with coping mechanisms and ways to fight relapse following the completion of rehab. It is an important aspect of the recovery process and is necessary to provide patients with the tools needed to stay sober.

Some common therapies offered at rehab include:

  • Group therapy
  • Individual therapy
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Daily walks
  • Yoga
  • Holistic therapies, such as art therapy and meditation
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy influenced sessions

Aftercare Support

Once the rehab programme is completed, a full codeine relapse prevention and aftercare plan are put in place. This plan helps clients to apply the knowledge taught during rehab in ‘real world’ situations.

Aftercare includes 24-hour telephone support and weekly sessions which take place at the rehab centre. We also recommend that residents seek local support in their area for codeine addiction recovery once they have completed residential rehab treatment. Groups such as Narcotics Anonymous are great ways to keep up with recovery.

Contact Ocean Recovery Centre for Treatment

Call Ocean Recovery today to find out more about codeine rehab programmes. Call on 01253 847 553. Alternatively, complete the enquiry form and a member of the admissions team will respond shortly.

We also maintain rehab clinics across the United Kingdom.

John Gillen - Director at Ocean Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: February 1, 2023

John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.

Dr Olalekan Otulana

    Dr. Olalekan Otulana - Clinical Reviewer - Last reviewed: February 1, 2023

    MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, DFSRH, FRSPH, MBA (Cantab)

    Dr Otulana is a highly experienced GP and Addiction Specialist Physician. He is particularly interested in Substance Misuse Management and has a wide range of experience in the assessment, management and residential rehabilitation of patients with drug and other substance addiction problems. His main aim is to assess patients with addiction problems and determine their treatment needs for medical detoxification treatments and psychological interventions. He is also experienced in managing patients who require dual drug and alcohol detoxification treatments.

    Dr Otulana started practising as a doctor in 2000 and has been in the field of addiction for over a decade. He is an Advanced Practitioner Member of Addiction Professionals and holds a Part 1 Certificate in Clinical Psychopharmacology from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. He is excellent healthcare service professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School.