Sunday, Jun 28, 2026 21:30 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Jun 28, 2026 15:56 [IST]
A
39-year-old married businessman consulted me for a history of codeine cough
syrup misuse spanning nearly a decade.
His
journey into addiction began innocently. Under the influence of friends, he was
introduced to codeine-containing cough syrup and initially used it occasionally
for cough and cold symptoms without medical supervision. Over time, what
started as occasional use gradually became a coping mechanism for life's daily
stresses, responsibilities, and emotional challenges.
By the time he sought treatment, he was consuming approximately two bottles of
codeine syrup every day. He explained that he no longer used it to feel good
but to avoid the unbearable withdrawal symptoms that appeared whenever he
attempted to stop. He could not recall exactly when occasional use had
transformed into dependence, but he estimated that he had been struggling with
continuous misuse for more than nine years.
Like many individuals with opioid dependence, he had made several attempts to
quit on his own. Each time, withdrawal symptoms and cravings led him back to
using codeine within a few weeks.
Following a comprehensive assessment, counseling, psychoeducation, and
initiation of a structured detoxification and recovery plan, he expressed an
important concern:
"Doctor, even if I quit, there is every chance I may relapse if my friends
continue using it."
We discussed how peer influence can contribute not only to the development of
addiction but also to recovery. He promised that if he succeeded in staying
away from codeine, he would motivate his friends to seek treatment as well.
Today, he returned for follow-up—and he did not come alone.
He arrived with two of his friends, both of whom had been struggling with
codeine misuse and had decided to seek professional help after witnessing his
efforts toward recovery.
This experience highlights a powerful lesson: addiction can spread through
social networks, but recovery can spread too. One person's decision to seek
help can inspire others to break free from substance dependence and reclaim
their lives.
Recovery is not merely an individual achievement; it often becomes a source of
hope for families, friends, and entire communities. Sometimes, the most
effective intervention is not only treatment itself but the positive example
set by someone who chooses recovery and encourages others to do the same.
