Skip to main content

Codeine addiction treatment that actually works

Our goal for more than a decade has been to help those with substance abuse and addiction using a comprehensive continuum of care to address the whole person for a lifetime. We offer inpatient, outpatient, and even virtual treatment for addiction.

The Enterhealth approach combines proven science- and evidence-based therapies designed and administered by board-certified addiction psychiatrists and physicians. That’s why our program is effective in 84% of patients, compared to 12-step programs, which work for at most 50%.

CONTACT US
Three column stats: 8% Recovery Rate, 5000 patients treated, and 1:5 Clinical staff to patient ratio.

Call today and get help. Our codeine addiction treatment experts are here for you.

1.800.388.4601

Treatment options for codeine addiction

Most people addicted to codeine need help to get clean, and the most effective way to get that help is through a comprehensive inpatient rehab program that combines supervised medical detox (or withdrawal stabilization) with long-term behavioral and psychological therapies.

The first step, medical detox, needs to be overseen by board-certified medical professionals who can monitor the patient’s health and prescribe anti-addiction medications such as Suboxone to reduce the uncomfortable codeine withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings for the drug.

Drug detox alone is not a cure for opioid addiction, its primary purpose is to allow patients to participate in a long-term program of behavioral therapy and psychological treatment.

This comprehensive approach is proven to be the most effective way to restore a degree of normal function to the brain and address underlying issues that led to the desire to use so that patients can regain a stable and productive life.

Effective therapies and treatments for opioid addiction can be administered in a residential or outpatient setting after withdrawal stabilization.

Treatment plans at Enterhealth typically include:

  • Medication Management using anti-addiction medications
  • Individual counseling
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy sessions
  • Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
  • Supportive Outpatient Programs (SOP)
  • Maintenance Outpatient Programs (MOP)
  • Holistic treatment services

A range of treatment options based on you

Each person’s path to addiction is unique with different neurological, emotional, social and environmental contributing factors. That’s why the Enterhealth journey to recovery is personalized to meet individuals and families where they are. Whether you need immersive inpatient care or outpatient treatment, we offer a range of evidence-based treatment options and innovative therapies.

Enterhealth is the only facility with highly trained on-site addiction specialists, including PhDs, MDs and Master’s Level Therapists, who coordinate care at every stage. Because we understand the science behind addiction, we are best equipped to assess and treat individuals and families. Contact us to see why we’re the only facility with an 84% success rate.

RESIDENTIAL

PROVIDING A HEALING PLACE FOR NEW BEGINNINGS

Enterhealth Ranch offers inpatient care that’s on your side, not on the clock. It’s a nurturing environment where treatment is highly personalized and intensified. Every patient has a private room and 24/7 access to addiction trained specialists who use evidence-based treatments and comprehensive care, including medical detox, in-depth medical and psychological assessments, individual and group therapies, life skills and more.

LEARN MORE
Enterhealth Ranch and man with coffee mug looking into distance.

OUTPATIENT

PROVIDING EXCELLENCE IN YOUR CONTINUUM OF CARE

Enterhealth’s Outpatient Center of Excellence, conveniently located in the Park Cities, is expertly staffed with board-certified addiction specialists. Our comprehensive program is designed for continued recovery care and provides individuals and families the support they need to reconnect with each other and thrive in recovery.

LEARN MORE
Man and women talking in therapy session with Enterhealth Outpatient Center of Excellence sign.

ALUMNI

FINDING CONNECTIONS TO STRENGTHEN RECOVERY

The Enterhealth Alumni Association offers a unique opportunity for our patients to continue and thrive in their recovery by building relationships through shared experiences. This one-of-a-kind support environment provides a nurturing space where participants can gain understanding, learn from others and continue to rebuild their lives.

LEARN MORE
Silhouettes of people with sunlight in the background and man on phone looking at a laptop.

CORPORATE SERVICES

SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES IN THEIR RECOVERY

Recovery is one of the most important benefits you can give your employees. Enterhealth provides comprehensive, evidence-based residential and outpatient programs and continued 24/7 technological support with Enterhealth Connect. It’s a tool employees can use to access expert care that fits their schedule for online consultations with highly trained addiction specialists, dynamic content including blogs, podcasts, videos, and continuously updated tools and resources that will aid in their recovery journey.

LEARN MORE
Man holding black-rimmed glasses, and women looking into distance from behind a window.

How Enterhealth Makes a Difference

“FPO – When I first arrived here, I truly believed I would never be able to function without drugs or alcohol, nor be happy in general ever again. My family did not know how to help me. After being here, I’m a happier person. Laughter comes naturally. I’m repairing relationships I thought were irreparable.”

Hanna (former Enterhealth patient)

Father hugging sun with sunset in background.

Frequently Asked Questions About Codeine Addiction

What is codeine?

Codeine is a painkiller and anti-tussive used to treat mild to moderate pain and chronic coughing. It comes in single-ingredient preparations, but is more commonly combined with pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, and aspirin. Other formulations also include things like muscle relaxers, caffeine, or antihistamines. Codeine is prescribed in tablet form and as a liquid cough syrup.

Codeine is an opioid compound found in the opium poppy flower. These kinds of compounds relieve pain by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, changes users’ perception of pain and triggering a release of dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter that causes feelings of euphoria.

Due to its role in the recent and ongoing opioid epidemic, codeine is more tightly regulated now than it was in the past. However, is still widely prescribed, and it also finds its way onto the street where it can be purchased illegally.

What are the side effects of codeine?

Even when taken correctly, codeine can lead to a number of side effects, including:
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Skin rash
• Itching
• Sweating
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Mood changes such as anxiety and fear

Note that this list doesn’t reflect the true reality of addiction. People with an opioid use disorder often take such high amounts of the drug that these side effects become extreme.

For example, nausea is a common side effect, but someone addicted to codeine may take so much that they vomit excessively yet continue taking more of the drug.

How do you know if you or someone you love is addicted to codeine?

Codeine use crosses the line into abuse and addiction (referred to clinically as opioid use disorder) whenever it’s taken to get high rather than for relief from pain and coughing. Consuming it over time causes the body to become physically dependent, which means users need to take more and more to get the same effects.

When someone who is physically dependent stops taking the drug, they will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which is why opioids like codeine are so difficult to stop using.

Addiction often leads to psychological addiction as well, meaning users experience anxiety, cravings, and other effects when they aren’t taking the medication.

Codeine addiction behaviors include:
• Taking more than the prescribed dosage
• “Doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions
• Tampering with codeine before taking it
• Taking codeine in any way other than orally

When a person’s cravings for codeine get bad enough or they cannot get more of the medication, they may look for relief in a cheap and accessible alternative – heroin. This is a common scenario in the modern opioid epidemic.

What are the symptoms of codeine withdrawal?

Even when taken as directed by a doctor, it’s possible for people to develop a physical dependence on codeine. For this reason, codeine prescriptions may also include dosing instructions for patients to taper off of the medication slowly to reduce and eliminate this physical dependency.
If the opioid withdrawal symptoms are extreme, they can drive the patient to continue using the substance despite knowing the harm – the definition of addiction.

Opioid withdrawal symptoms can include:
• Restlessness
• Yawning
• Sweating
• Tearing eyes
• Runny nose
• Chills
• Muscle and back aches
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Irritability, anxiety
• Dilated pupils
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heartbeat or breathing

These problems vary in severity and duration depending on the specific codeine dose taken and duration of use.

How do you treat codeine withdrawal?

The first step is to remove the drug from the patient’s system and replace it with a long-acting opioid substitute such as Suboxone. This allows withdrawal symptoms to stabilize, and the person can slowly taper off the long-acting substitute, which is safer and produces fewer unpleasant side effects.

Patients are most uncomfortable during the first one to three days of the opioid withdrawal phase, so doctors may also prescribe a combination of mild sedatives and a pain reliever such as ibuprofen to make them more comfortable for the first few days.

How do medications like Suboxone help with opioid withdrawal?

Medications to treat opioid addiction such as Suboxone (buprenorphine with naloxone) work by activating the same opioid receptors in the brain that codeine affects without inducing the same euphoric high. This makes them safer and less addictive alternatives.

Using these medications helps reduce cravings and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which allows patients to actively participate in their treatment program as the dose of Suboxone is slowly reduced.

How long does it take to detox from codeine?

Typically, after about three days, codeine is no longer present in the system, and with the correct dose of Suboxone, any withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings should subside.

Can you overdose on codeine?

Yes. That’s why prescriptions are written for a specific dose tailored to each person and may have adverse effects or reactions in others. Taking excessive amounts of codeine can result in a life-threatening overdose.

Codeine overdose symptoms include:

  • Slowed or shallow breathing
  • Extreme drowsiness leading to coma
  • Cold and clammy skin
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Low blood pressure
  • Death

These symptoms can be deadly if not treated immediately.

How do people misuse codeine?

Users typically abuse codeine by cutting, crushing, chewing, or dissolving codeine tablets to bypass the time-release coating, or by consuming excessive amounts of cough syrups containing codeine.

Is codeine a controlled substance?

Yes. Codeine is classified by the DEA as a Schedule II controlled substance for its highly addictive properties. Possessing, sharing, giving away, or selling codeine without a prescription is illegal.

*State standard is 1:10 clinical staff to patient ratio