There are two different types of codeine addicts in the world today: those who have suffered an injury or medical condition that keeps them in constant pain and thus constant need for the drug, and those that purchase the drug illegally simply to get high. Depending on which of these categories you may fall, you may consider your problem a simple codeine dependency or a real codeine addiction.

It may seem like a play on words here, but many people who use codeine on a regular basis see a huge difference between the terms codeine addiction and codeine dependency.

For instance, someone who is taking codeine daily for a legitimate injury that keeps them in constant physical pain will argue that they do not have an addiction at all. They will feel that they need to remain dependant on the drug to improve their quality of life and to get through activities that would be impossible for them without the drug.

These people do not see themselves as drug addicts and will often not accept the term “codeine addiction” being applied to their case in any way, shape, or form. Yet, when you really get to the core of the issue most cases of codeine addiction are simply codeine addiction, whether there is a legitimate purpose for taking the drug or not.

This is exemplified by what happens in cases where the pain that originally started the codeine addiction lessens to the point the doctor who prescribed the drug decides it is no longer necessary. In some cases the doctor may want to switch to a less addicting drug to wean the patient off, but the patient still feels completely dependant on the drug, even in the absence of the serious pain that was there before.

The idea of someone dealing with codeine addiction being a real drug addict seems absurd, and in most cases that is correct judgment. When there is a real need for the hard core relief of serious pain, this is a very effective drug to which some people may need to remain dependant on for longer periods of time. Yet for others, it can turn into a real addiction that creates problems when it comes time to go off of the drug.

The actual process of withdrawing from a codeine addiction can vary from one person to another, depending largely on the extremity of the addiction and the natural tendency of the person to handle pain and distress. While the basic symptoms of withdrawal are very similar to any other drug detox process, the severity of these symptoms will vary from one person to another.

The difference between codeine addiction and a simple dependency is very slight and the line can be crossed without any glaring warning signs. Often, people in the throws of this type of addiction will appear completely normal as long as the prescribed dosage is being closely adhered to. It is when the user starts to take more than the doctor has prescribed, starts taking it at inappropriate times, or begins purchasing it illegally after the prescription has been stopped, that the real codeine addiction label must be applied.