Codeine, as a member of the opioids group of substances, is a naturally occurring opioid that is medically prescribed for mild to moderate pain, as well as being used to treat specific issues such as a long-term cough and diarrhoea.
It works by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain and the rest of the central nervous system (CNS), therefore altering the way in which the individual reacts and responds to pain within different areas of the body.
However, as an opioid, it is also incredibly addictive, meaning that individuals who are prescribed codeine for pain may be at risk of developing a codeine addiction, especially if their pain is persistent, leading to a longer course of codeine prescription.
This web page will cover more about codeine itself, as well as how an individual may withdraw from a codeine addiction through a home detox – if they are suitable.
For some individuals, attending a detox or rehabilitation programme within a residential rehab centre may not be suitable, meaning that these individuals require a different approach to recovery.
One of the options for these individuals is to begin a home drug detox programme.
This is where the individual will withdraw from and manage the withdrawal symptoms of their codeine addiction while in the comfort of their own home.
Through a home codeine detox, individuals will often be prescribed additional medication and medical interventions to help them cope with the long-term withdrawal symptoms and negative effects that may arise during a codeine withdrawal.
Many studies stress the difficulty in determining whether or not an individual is struggling with a codeine addiction due to delays in clinically based care (1), and this further adds to the struggles of determining whether or not an individual’s circumstances make them suitable for a home codeine detox.
In general, for codeine (and most other opioids), residential rehab is known to be the most effective method of recovery due to the ‘around-the-clock care’ and additional facilities and staffing available within these centres.
However, for those for whom residential rehabilitation may not be appropriate (for which there are many reasons), a home codeine detox may be suitable.
These individuals generally have a shorter history of a codeine addiction, fewer health issues, and less experience of withdrawal symptoms when attempting to recover.
Though every individual experiences addiction differently (depending on the substance, the history of this, as well as many other personal health factors), there are some common withdrawal symptoms that occur with codeine withdrawal.
The most commonly experienced of these are listed below:
As with most withdrawal processes and detoxes, there is always a risk, especially if the individual is undergoing these processes alone and without appropriate medical supervision.
For codeine specifically, this is because codeine is a physically addictive substance, meaning that it directly impacts the body and the way it functions on a daily basis.
When it comes to withdrawing from this, it is therefore more of a stress and impact on the body – something which can cause discomfort, serious health issues, and life-threatening effects if not properly managed.
This is why it is always essential to speak with a medical professional about the suitability of an individual for a home detox, as there are generally unsupervised and getting access to emergency care from an individual’s home is relatively more challenging than accessing care from a residential rehab centre, for example.
Before an individual begins a home codeine detox, as mentioned above, it is first vital that their suitability for such a programme is assessed.
Generally, this pre-assessment will be carried out by the individual’s rehabilitation service provider or by an addiction referral service such as Rehab 4 Addiction.
During this assessment, individuals must answer completely honestly so that the assessor has the best picture of what will and what will not be suitable for the individual’s specific needs.
Such questions as those that follow below may be asked:
More and more commonly, individuals who partake in a home drug detox may be able to access further support such as that found in a sober companion or coach.
These are qualified therapists who work with the individual at home to ensure that they are adhering to their detox procedure, as well as to provide both physical and social support.
Recovering from an addiction is challenging, and all individuals will cope with it differently, but having someone to check up on an individual, ensure that they have all that they need, and that they are mentally well throughout the process is an invaluable benefit.
Studies show that these sober companions/coaches are often highly beneficial for helping the individual to adjust to this new way of going about their daily life, therefore aiding them to make greater use of the tools and resources that they are provided with during a home drug detox (2).
As mentioned previously in this article, every individual will have a different experience of addiction, whether this is in the detox process, further recovery, or beyond.
This, therefore, makes it more challenging to determine how long an individual may require to fully detox from the substance to which they are addicted.
For codeine, the general consensus suggests that the worst and the majority of an individual’s withdrawal symptoms will occur within the first 5-7 days of withdrawing from the substance, but this is only an average.
Some individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms for up to a year or more, for example, depending on the longevity and severity of their addiction.
Following on from above, due to the difficulty of determining how long an individual may require support with withdrawal, this also impacts the cost.
In residential rehab, for example, an individual must also consider the cost of accommodation.
Depending on the centre, this can vary anywhere from £4,000 to £14,000 or more for the recommended 28-day stay.
However, for a home codeine detox, individuals do not have the additional cost of accommodation, meaning that the cost is often lower, varying still but an average home detox programme may cost around £1,500 per week.
Many additional rehabilitation service providers offer full financial support and payment plans, so this is always something to check before beginning or committing to a specific form of treatment.
Rehab 4 Addiction is a specialised addiction referrals service, meaning that we match individuals to the most suitable recovery programme for them, as well as providing free and confidential advice to anyone who needs it.
To speak to a member of our friendly and professional team on our addiction support hotline, call 0800 140 4690 to start your recovery journey as soon as today.
[1] Nielsen, S., MacDonald, T. and Johnson, J.L., 2018. Identifying and treating codeine dependence: a systematic review. Medical Journal of Australia, 208(10), pp.451-461.
[2] Eater, J. and Parrish, R., 2007. A companion during recovery: sober companions can help clients transitioning to and from residential treatment. Behavioral Healthcare, 27(1), pp.30-32.
