CODEINE ABUSE: A ticking time bomb, says Pharmacist Odoh Joshua

 

The increasing rate of abuse and addiction of the opiate narcotic drug, codeine has in recent years drawn the attention of public health advocates and other concerned citizens, one of whom is Pharmacist Joshua Jamine Odoh, a Lagos based Hospital pharmacist with previous experience in community practice in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. In a chat with Pharma-Guide Nigeria correspondents (on July 11, 2015), he affirmed that the incidence is high among teenagers and young adults, described the menace of Codeine abuse and addiction as a ticking time bomb calling on government and pharmacists to regulate the sale of codeine-containing anti-tussives (cough suppressant syrups). He also called for more public enlightenment on the danger of codeine abuse and addiction.

 

Codeine is a controlled, short-acting narcotic prodrug with anti-tussive and analgesic effects. It is controlled (Schedule II) due to its known narcotic activity. It also produces some sedative effect and often young people use it to calm their nerves to sleep in a bid to forget their troubles gradually benefiting a euphoric effect (feeling of calmness and pleasure) which creates dependence, and craving for higher doses over time. Addicts often source codeine from codeine containing Cough syrups or codeine tablets. The syrup wraps and often disposed, the bottles opened and emptied into juice or other drinks immediately after purchase in order to avoid being suspected by friends and family members.

Indeed, codeine is a chemical entity and like every other medicine, it requires that it be taken at a particular safe dose above which overdose and its advesrse consequences occur. Non-prescription use cum abuse leads to tolerance and dependence leading to craving for higher doses to achieve same effect thus addicts become prone to dangers of overdose.

 

Some of these dangers include: Acute pancreatitis (This often leades to damage of the pancreas and onset of diabetes mellitus), Major depression, Liver damage, Kidney damage, Financial problems, Legal issues, Domestic problems, Job loss, Heightened pain sensitivity, Uncontrollable muscle twitches, Muscle spasms, cramps, and pain, Loss of productivity at school or work, Impaired social relationships, Seizures, Incarceration, Respiratory depression (can be life-threatening for asthmatics and people with broncho-constriction diseases), Bradycardia, Cold clammy skin, Decreased muscle tone and Coma.

 

An addict will likely display  symptoms : Euphoria (lasts for a moment and followed by depression – no true benefits), Calm, Depression, Anxiety, Mood swings

 

Behavioral symptoms include Drowsiness, Increase in amount of time sleeping, Decreased appetite, Apathy, Increased hospital visits, No longer caring for loved ones, “Doctor shopping” or visiting a number of doctors to obtain more codeine prescriptions, Prescription forgery, Stealing prescriptions or opiates from friends and family, Healthcare fraud, Lying to cover-up amount used.

 

Physical symptoms include Constipation (certainly not a funny feeling and endangers the health overtime), Blue tinge to lips and fingernails, Muscle twitches (this feeling just makes the addict sick), Dizziness, Fainting (needs no explanation, right?), Nausea and vomiting, Dry mouth (gets the mouth smelling and ulcers often set in), Itching, Rashes, Urinary retention (not a good one for the tender kidneys), Hypotension, Seizure (the whole body goes gaga), Respiratory depression, Decreased libido (not so friendly for Mr Man).

 

Psychological symptoms: Hallucinations, Delusions, Memory loss and Lack of emotions (Now, if you’ve got all these, you are off and near thy sane end)

Addicts upon withdrawal or inability to access codeine experience Craving for the drug, Runny nose, intense sweating, Chills, Goosebumps, Stomach cramps, Nausea and vomiting, Spasms of the muscles, Agitation and irritability, Psychosis (can lead to madness if not properly managed), Suicidal thoughts, Homicidal thoughts, Racing thoughts and Hallucinations.

 

Pharmacist Odoh who is a fan of public health, calls on young people to be more engaged with positive ventures so as to avoid sad events which may lure them to taking codeine to attempt to temporarily forget their worries and in that way get themselves into more harm. He also tasked them to have good mentors to help them during difficult moments, stay away from bad friends and wild parties and talk to a pharmacist for their drug-related needs.

 

Acknowledgement:

Pharma-guide wishes to acknowledge the sources of some information used in compiling the above report:

• medscape.com

• www.acadianaaddiction.com/prescription-drugs/codeine/symptoms-signs-effects

 

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