Addiction to Codeine: Detox, Treatment and Rehab for Opioids

May 21, 2018

Harmony Place Team

Codeine is a mild opiate, typically prescribed as a minor pain reliever or cough suppressant. When patients use it as prescribed, codeine is relatively safe.

However, when codeine is used recreationally and in combination with alcohol or other narcotics, it can lead to addiction, producing long-term negative societal and health outcomes for the user.

How Prevalent Is Codeine Addiction in the United States?

An estimated 33 million Americans use some form of codeine each year. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 4.7 million of those 33 million used codeine for recreational proposes.

The drug is often used for its calming effect, and although not as addictive as other opioids such as heroin, fentanyl or Vicodin, it creates a cycle of addiction just as those more dangerous drugs do. Furthermore, codeine can lead to serious health complications, along with diminished financial and social success.

Warning Signs that You or Loved One Might Have an Addiction to Codeine

Think that someone you know might be struggling with codeine addiction? Or that it’s personally affecting you? Look for these signs:

Using codeine without a medical prescription
Persistent or extreme relaxation in mood
Miosis – very tiny or constricted pupils
Staggering – unsteady walk or movement
Dysarthria – slurred speech
Lethargy – drowsiness, tiredness or apathy
Seizures – violent convolutions and/or unconsciousness resulting from neurological imbalances in the brain
Nausea or vomiting
Cyanosis – blue lips or fingernails

As in most cases of opioid addiction, codeine users build up a tolerance to the drug. And as time progresses, habitual use requires a larger dose to obtain the same level of euphoria once felt. This commonality can cause a crippling physical and psychological dependency.

Though codeine is less potent than more commonly used opioids, it is imperative for a regular user to seek professional treatment immediately, in the form of medically supervised detoxification.

The First Step in Seeking Codeine Addiction Treatment

Because codeine withdrawal is typically less severe than with other opioids, users tend to try and quit cold turkey (suddenly on their own). The discomfort of the withdrawal symptoms, though comparatively mild, often results in a subsequent relapse in a relatively short period of time.

There are two primary classes of detox centers: Medically Assisted and Clinically Monitored. A clinically monitored, or social treatment, facility will not provide medical care while a patient undergoes detox.

On the other hand, a medically assisted treatment center employs health professionals to monitor the physical and psychological functioning of the patient who undergoes detoxification. In all cases, medically assisted treatment is the safest and best long-term detox option for you or your loved one.

What to Expect from the Side Effects of Codeine Withdrawal

The codeine addiction withdrawal timeline will vary from patient to patient, and though codeine is not as potent as other opioids, withdrawal can be dangerous and potentially fatal if not monitored by a medical professional.

Above all else, it is important to stay hydrated throughout the detox treatment stage; patients who fail to do so tend to develop flu-like symptoms. The greatest risk incumbent to codeine withdrawal is a patient’s predisposition to developing a more serious illness as a result – severe flu or pneumonia, for instance.

Codeine Withdrawal Physical Symptoms

The physical side effects of codeine withdrawal include:

Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Dehydration
Sweating, chills, muscle aches
Shakiness or trembling in the extremities
Headache, sneezing or a runny nose
Rash or hives
Increased blood pressure
Irregular breathing rates
Irregular heartbeat
Mild confusion or disorientation
Memory issues or issues with concentration

Codeine Withdrawal Mental Symptoms

The mental side effects of codeine withdrawal may include:

Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings
Irritability
Insomnia
Cravings

What’s the Next Step After Codeine Detox Treatment?

The next step all depends on what type of recovery center in which you or loved one sought treatment. Some facilities only specialize in detox, and those stay lengths can be as short as two or three days. Longer-term recovery centers typically yield higher success rates and tend to take a more integrated approach to substance abuse treatment.

Time Matters

Addiction can span months or even years, and over that prolonged period of time, an individual’s cognitive functioning can be severely affected and/or limited. Statistics indicate that detox alone is not effective in promoting long-term recovery.

At Harmony Place, our team employs a integrated approach to opioid rehab and treatment – encompassing an array of therapeutic modalities for our patients – including:

Access to mental health care
Nutrition education
Exercise
Art therapy
Career coaching
Spirituality
Meditation
Equine-assisted therapy

Addiction and mental health run hand in hand. More than one in three individuals suffering from addiction issues are also affected by a mental health condition. The substance abuse issue may simply be a result of an individual self-medicating the effects of the behavioral disorder. Or in some cases, that mental health issue may be an exacerbating and contributing factor to the intensity of the addiction.

If you or someone in your family is battling addiction issues and suffers from a mental health disorder, or suspects one might be present, it is important to find a treatment facility that will address both the addiction and the co-occurring mental health diagnosis. Treatment for both disorders should run concurrently to assure the best outcomes for you or your loved one.
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How Harmony Place Works for You and Your Family

The world is complex, and every human making up the whole is unique. At Harmony Place, we understand these subtleties and warmly embrace the uniqueness of every client we serve. Our opioid detox programs and treatment plans employ the latest practices and are medically monitored by expert professionals. We put our clients’ safety above all else.

Our treatment plans are also patient-centered – tailored to fit the individual needs of our unique clientele. At Harmony Place, we get to know you first, and then we work intimately with you and your family to develop a long-range codeine addiction treatment plan for the optimal chance of success.

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Chris P

I've been to 12 rehabs over the last 20 years and NO other place has touch like Harmony Place! From the owner right down to the cleaning lady, everyone here is kinda and warm. God has blessed this place and I feel privileged to have come through here. I recommend anyone who is going through their struggle with mental health or substance abuse to pick up the phone and come! You won't regret it!

Joseph S

This place is incredible, kind, loving, patient, rigorous, educative, caring and the best place for recovery. Ill be part of the alumni crew

Monica G

I had very good experience at Harmony Place From first day I came, staff was very kind and make me feel welcome and safe. Everyone was friendly and always try to help me. The therapists are very good and caring. They listen to me and help me understand my problems better. I learn many things from them and feel stronger because of their support. The nurses also very nice and professional. They always check on me and make sure I am okay. Food was good and facilities were clean and comfortable. It help me feel more relaxed and focus on my recovery. Management also doing very good job. Everything was organized and you can see they really care about patients. I am very thankful for this place and all the people who work here. I recommend this center to anyone who needs help.

Denton

Awesome place great people u want to check this place out most definitely 😜

Tyler

A treatment center where the owners truly care about your recovery and after care.. cannot recommend enough

Jodana S

If you want to detox painlessly this is the place! The staff is A1. They truly care about us. The groups are awesome . Residential is crazy awesome! You live in a mansion. With a private chef who makes the best food. Community meeting that gets results fast, they care about your opinions. Pool and Jacuzzi are beautiful. If your struggling with addiction this is the house you should come to. I LOVE HARMONY PLACE!!!!! Thank you to all the staff they go above and beyond to make this experience comfortable therapeutic. Don't spend another day in your addiction come to Harmony Place right now!

Cass

I’ve been to 4 treatment centers before Harmony Place, and I can tell you without a single doubt that this is the absolute best by FAR. The past ones were luxury Residential Treatment centers that just treated every single client the same not tailoring to each individual, and were basically just in it for the money, dropping the ball each time. I can also tell you that I’ve never met the CEOs, but here, David comes to the facility almost every single day, and makes sure he get to know every individual here. He is incredibly kind, and was even willing to transfer me to another facility with a higher level of trauma therapy due to me having a lifetime of trauma and PTSD that just is going to take a long time to tackle. He truly cares about all of the clients having all of the tools that we need before getting released to the real world. No more of other CEO would ever be willing to miss an opportunity at making more money and even paired with my IMPECCABLE case manager to find a different facility that was more trauma based. My case manager, Sam, goes absolutely above and beyond in every single aspect. She makes sure you have a smooth transition into aftercare, provides out of this world advice when it comes to sobriety, and takes the time out of her day to make sure that FMLA and short-term disability are completely taken care of during your stay. I’ve never met a case manager that could ever compare to Sam. Ever. I feel lucky to have met her, genuinely. Marissa, my therapist, is SO SWEET, actually listens to you, and provides advice and therapy tailored to each individual’s experience. She’s handled every mood I’ve been in, never judged me, and allowed me to feel safe enough to tell her things I’ve never told any person or therapist in my 29 years of life. I’ve been going to therapy for the past 15 years, and none of those therapists even come close to how amazing she is. I’ve been to 4 other treatment centers in my life and none even come close to Harmony Place. The facility is clean, organized, and high-end. I would recommend Harmony place to my family, friends, and anyone seeking treatment. I feel SO BLESSED to have landed in their hands. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE CLINICAL STAFF BEYOND WORDS. I love you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. I feel more confident than ever in my Recovery.

Gabe H

Where to begin.. Harmony is a place that will forever be a part of my story as the first step in my recovery journey. I’m so grateful for this program. The staff is very friendly, and many of them understand what addiction is like, for they themselves have recovery stories of their own. They have an awesome team of therapists, group facilitators, nurses, RA technicians, medical and health professionals, a wonderful case manager for aftercare that cares deeply for your next steps; making sure you are set up for success. They have a wonderful admissions team (shoutout to Marielle who was so kind and understanding of my messed up situation). Everyone is very relatable and friendly. They invest heavily in the importance of diet and nutrition too - there’s a full time professional chef. I gained all the weight I lost and wanted back in the first two weeks lol. On top of the intensive programming they do throughout the day, they take us out to experience various kinds of outside groups to get a taste of the real world, and also take us on social outings during the weekend. If you’re serious about getting better this place will meet you where you’re at and prepare you to launch with a renewed mind and heart.

Monica P

I can't begin to explain just how amazing Harmony Place is. In fact, when we sit down with the owner, Jeff, and clinical director, David, on Monday mornings to have a house meeting, they ask us what they could be doing better. A bigger blender for smoothies is the ONLY thing we could come up with. Let me begin by addressing some negative reviews. If you notice many of them are from people, or are referring to people who have been asked to leave. It is because of harmony places protection of their clients that provide ideal conditions for healing and progress. There is a screening process that it is implemented where they make sure the clients they admit are ready to start a life of sobriety. Some people slip through the cracks. Some people find out a few days or weeks in that they've changed their minds. Some are inappropriate and break rules. It happens. When Harmony Place ask people to leave, It's because they are protecting the people who are here that want treatment. In effect, they're providing exactly what I needed for a genuine start to recovery. When I began my search for a treatment center, my requirements were that the facility's provide an environment in which its residents all want to be there and that it is ethically ran. I got that and so much more at Harmony Place. As well as a structured routine, they also provide a confidential and nurturing environment where one feels safe and where profound healing can begin. Their program offers a sound foundation where further progress in sober living is almost guaranteed. In group meetings, we enjoy getting to know ourselves again and with deeper understanding about why we are the way we are. We are provided with skills to handle real life. Its here that I've come to understand that its not addiction that has driven me to make a mess of my life. It is the trauma that I endured and not processing it correctly that lead to poor thinking patterns that opened the door to addiction resulting in poor life management. So we start at the bottom. Trauma. They help us understand that trauma has led to our own toxicity, what that trauma looks like and how to get out of our own way. Process groups help us learn how to take accountability and foster healthier relationships. I learned here that changing the way I think is absolutely possible and imperative to the healing process. Harmony Place offered me hope when I previously felt I was unfixable and a support team that truly loves me. Even after I leave here, I have contacts that almost demand I keep in touch and an alumni meeting where I can return to the facility on Thursday nights. I wasn't a 12 stepper when I came here but my first experience with it was not one where I was ready to stop using. I understand now that the steps will work for me. It's certainly is not the only modality that they teach. In one group, we are provided an opportunity to sit with a recently retired medical doctor to just ask questions. Another is with a nutritionist. There are a handful of people IN recovery that come to lead groups that are all accredited highly specialized where I felt understood and not judged. The knowledge I have gained here is life changing. It is also versatile and relatable for all types of people. my favorite group was dialectical behavioral therapy. There are breathing classes and sound bath groups and I started doing yoga in the morning. There's a dharma meeting they take you offsite that focuses on Buddhist values. A fantastic onsight chef provides three meals and you can have special requests. We facilitated our own Movie nights during free time. I cant forget to mention you get your own one on one meetings with your assigned primary therapist and there is comprehensive medical support complete with 24/7 nurses and a doctor that shows up throughout the week. If this is what you need to recover and you have mediCAL, cancel your mediCAL and get insurance Harmony Place accepts if you can. There are people to help you with that as well. Just call. Many, many thanks to the staff. ✔️Another life changed.🙏

Cody B

This is such an amazing place truly changed my life. I would recommend this place to anybody if they’re looking for a strong recovery house that truly cares about your recovery and not about just money So if you’re ready to change your life, don’t miss out on the greatness of harmony because this place is where it’s at