A Codeine detox to rid yourself of dependence on Codeine, or its more popular version ‘lean’, can be a grueling experience. It can seem isolating and even near impossible at times to recover from it.
However, with complete knowledge of the issue and the right help, it is very much possible to rid yourself of dependence on any substance.
Codeine, like Morphine, is extracted from the poppy plant. It is, in fact, derived from Morphine but is relatively less strong in terms of its sedative and analgesic effects.
Normally, Codeine is prescribed by doctors for relieving people of cough and diarrhea along with mild to moderate pain. It can be taken in the form of tablets and syrup.
What is Codeine Detox
According to MedlinePlus, Codeine is a sleep-inducing substance that is sold only on prescription. However, since it may seem pleasurable to some people, an unregulated consumption of the substance can lead to strong dependence that may seem difficult to break.
It may also lead some people to turn to morphine when they no longer have access to prescribed pills or syrups. Medicines available in the US that contain Codeine include Cotabflu, Colrex Phenflu (CDX and CD), Maxiflu (CDX and CD), and Airacof among a range of other tablets and syrups.
According to the National Center of Biotechnology Information, there are around 15.6 million people in the world who misuse and are dependent on illegal opioids. When one begins to sense that they are dependent on Codeine and its euphoric effects, they need to realize that a Codeine detox has become essential.
Like other detoxes, it is an attempt to curb one’s dependency on substances that alter the brain and its working. It is no surprise that detox is followed by a range of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may seem daunting at first but, if managed properly, can enable one to come out of the problem more sustainably.
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The Rise of Lean in Popular Culture
Before discussing Codeine, in greater detail, it is essential to understand its place in popular culture. This will enable people to understand where they are likely to encounter lean and how they can avoid it. Codeine is informally referred to as Cody, Schoolboy, Sizzurp, and Syrup. Two other names that are even more popular and normalized are ‘Lean’ and ‘Purple Drank’.
Studies show that Codeine has been glamourized for several years in pop culture. Due to its normalization in social media, music, and cartoons, Codeine and its various ‘popular’ forms have turned into a subculture. Purple Drank, a recreational drink that is a mixture of cough syrup, ice cubes, and soda, is especially popular among young people. This popularization started, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in the 90s music scene, where the drink would be referred to.
With time, Purple Drank has come to be associated with a certain social status. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increase in the number of deaths caused by the overdose of opiates and opioids. This drink is especially a problem when young people are already at a higher risk of drug use, such as at raves.
In the years 2020 and 2021, especially, Codeine dependency has become an epidemic within a pandemic. What is particularly troubling about this normalization of Codeine is that it creates the image that the substance in all its various forms is not addictive or dangerous. It lulls people -especially young people- into a false sense of security that Codeine misuse is neither dangerous nor addictive.