Young successful men and wealthy middle-aged women are emerging as the new codeine addicts.
The therapeutic benefits of the poppy plant were discovered thousands of years ago, and today we still avail of its pain-relieving properties. Yet its highly addictive nature meant that the problem of opioid dependency grew almost as rapidly as its popularity.
Opioid dependency is not confined to illegal “hard” drugs such as heroin or prescription painkillers such as morphine; the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers containing codeine has been restricted since 2009 due to concerns about their potential abuse. For people taking large doses daily, the paracetamol and ibuprofen contained in these medications can cause long-term organ damage and even death.
Source: Danielle Barron, The Irish Times, 01/09/15
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