Codeine Rehab

What Is Codeine Rehab?

Drug rehab facilities are places that help people with substance use disorders address the mental and physical effects of drug addiction.

Many treatment facilities want to do more than stop you from using Codeine in the short term. They also want to help you develop coping skills so that you can stay sober long-term.

Services you may receive at a rehab center include: 

• Medical detox. The detoxification process usually involves slowly tapering off Codeine (or substituting it with another opiate, like methadone or buprenorphine, under medical guidance) to minimize unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. You can also go through Codeine detox as a separate program.
• Complementary medications. If appropriate, your team may prescribe or suggest medications that help with certain side effects of Codeine withdrawal.
• Counseling sessions. You may attend both individual therapy sessions and group therapy, which may include your family members or other people with addictions.

While the side effects of Codeine withdrawal aren’t typically life-threatening, they can cause discomfort. Symptoms like runny nose, stomach cramps, fatigue, and intense cravings can tempt a person to relapse just to escape these side effects.

However, if you’ve already begun to experience withdrawal symptoms, that means your body is adjusting back to normal.

If you were to try to return to Codeine abuse, you run a much higher risk of dangerous or deadly overdose, as your tolerance would have already decreased during detox.

Who Should Consider Rehab for Codeine Addiction?

Not everyone with a Codeine prescription abuses the medication. However, anyone who meets the signs of opioid addiction can benefit from seeking addiction treatment.

Signs of Codeine abuse or an addiction include: 

• Using someone else’s Codeine prescription.
• Taking more Codeine than you’re supposed to or for longer periods.
• Using Codeine in a way you’re not meant to
• Cravings and urges to use Codeine.
• Needing to take a higher dose of Codeine to get the same effects
• Trying to quit Codeine on your own but being unable to
• Spending a lot of time trying to get Codeine
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to cut back on or stop using Codeine
• Devoting a lot of time to using or recovering from Codeine use

According to an older study involving 339 regular Codeine users, around 11% of participants met the criteria for Codeine dependence.

The participants with physical dependence also reported higher rates of additional drug abuse, including alcohol, sedatives, and other opioids like heroin.

Additionally, an estimated 5.7 million people had an opioid use disorder in 2023.

Types of Codeine Rehab Programs

Many people associate drug rehab with inpatient facilities or expensive retreats, but that’s not the only way to seek treatment. There is a wide range of rehab treatment options for Codeine and other opioids, which can include the following.

Inpatient Codeine Rehab

Inpatient treatment for Codeine addiction is typically recommended for people with severe addictions, those who are also addicted to other substances, or individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders.

Types of inpatient rehab programs include: 

• Traditional inpatient programs. These programs take place in a hospital or clinic setting and provide round-the-clock care from nurses.
• Residential treatment. These programs take place at live-in facilities that provide care from non-medical staff.

Inpatient programs provide the highest level of care, offering the stability of a structured program and round-the-clock supervision. Every program has a different stay period, such as 7 to 30 days.

Outpatient Codeine Rehab

On the other hand, people with mild to moderate Codeine addictions may be better suited for outpatient rehab programs.

• Partial hospitalization. These programs offer a kind of “middle ground” between inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. You’ll attend high-intensity treatment during the day and return home at night.
• Standard outpatient program. Regular outpatient drug treatment is similar to regular doctor’s or therapist appointments, where you’ll live at home and attend fewer sessions during the week.
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP): Intensive outpatient programs take a more rigorous approach than standard outpatient programs but are not as intense as partial hospitalization. Your sessions will typically take place at a non-medical clinic.

The key advantage of an outpatient program is that it allows you to live at home during your treatment. Depending on the program’s intensity, you can keep working, attending school, or taking care of other responsibilities.

The time commitment varies. For example, intensive outpatient programs usually require 6 to 9 hours of weekly participation.

Benefits of Codeine Rehab

Not everyone with a Codeine addiction goes to rehab. Some people may find that other treatment options are a better fit. For example, you might visit a private therapist in a separate medical detox program.

But there can be benefits to choosing a rehab program for many people, such as the following:

• Multiple treatments in one program. Choosing a rehab program can help you take advantage of multiple addiction treatment services in the same program, including medical detox and counseling about your Codeine misuse.
• Insurance support. Many insurance providers cover substance abuse treatment, including plans from the Affordable Care Marketplace.
• A wide range of treatment types. Drug treatment centers aren’t a one-size-fits-all option: You can choose a treatment program with the intensity level you need.

Additional Treatment for Codeine Abuse and Addiction

Even after going through treatment, you may still experience Codeine cravings, which can cause relapses. To stay sober long-term, many people choose to continue their addiction treatment with one of the following aftercare options.

Therapy and Counseling

A therapist can work with you to address any underlying mental health concerns or thought patterns that contribute to Codeine addiction.

For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you new coping skills for harmful thought patterns through “homework” assignments, like reading or completing worksheets.

Addressing these thought patterns and shifting them to healthy coping skills can also help long-term relapse prevention.

One 2016 study assessed people addicted to prescription opioids who underwent CBT and medical treatment. The CBT group had more than double the abstinence rates of those who received medical treatment alone.

Support Groups

You may also find support after Codeine abuse by participating in a 12-step program, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA.) These meetings provide a framework for personal and spiritual growth through group meetings with others in addiction recovery.

A 2015 study associated 12-step program attendance with better rates of abstinence in opioid addicts during their first 6 months of treatment.

Find Codeine Rehab for Yourself or a Loved One

Don’t wait to seek help for a Codeine addiction. Take the first step toward recovery by finding drug rehabs and other treatment programs in your area. You can visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) online treatment locator or our Find Treatment page for help.