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BronCleer is a prescription cough suppressant that contains alcohol and codeine as its two main ingredients. Codeine is used in many medications, as it can be an effective treatment for both mild pain and various cold symptoms.
While BronCleer has a widely-accepted medical use, it also presents a high risk for abuse and addiction due to the fact that it contains both codeine and alcohol; two substances that can both be very habit-forming. Codeine & Broncleer addiction have become increasingly common in recent years, with popular musicians and rappers covering them in songs.
Many people start on the path to codeine or BronCleer addiction without full knowledge of the potentially harmful effects. Read our guide now for the full details!
Codeine is an opioid-based medication that belongs to a group of drugs called narcotic analgesics, better known as pain medicines. Codeine attaches to the same receptors as other opiates, making it an effective anti-diarrheal treatment and moderate pain reliever.
Typically, cough medications that contain codeine are classified as Schedule III or Schedule V controlled substances, depending on their formula and the amount of codeine they actually contain. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Schedule III and V substances have low to moderate potential for drug abuse.
Many cough suppressants that contain codeine, including BronCleer, can minimize common cold symptoms. However, these medications will also produce euphoric and sedative effects that may encourage people to continue this drug use unnecessarily.
Usually, codeine is taken orally in either liquid or tablet form. However, many individuals who are addicted to this drug will also consume it intravenously. This method of codeine use can produce a faster and more intense high.
When ingested, codeine is broken down and metabolized by the liver, where its chemical components revert to that of morphine. Once processed, the drug travels to the brain’s reward center and throughout the central nervous system, producing intense feelings of euphoria.
Drug abuse problems involving Codeine and BronCleer have skyrocketed in the United States and across the globe throughout the years, especially as the opioid epidemic continues. Codeine is considered to be one of the most widely abused prescription drugs in the nation, making it a large contributor to this opioid crisis.
Unfortunately, its high abuse rate is primarily due to common misconceptions about its potency. Often, codeine’s ability to cause addiction is underestimated because of its reputation as a cough syrup.
Compared to other drugs, many individuals do not believe they can get addicted to this substance because of its use in treating low-level cough symptoms and relatively easy accessibility, often available for purchase in most convenience stores.
Like other addictive substances, the effects of codeine and BronCleer abuse on a person’s mental and physical health can be significant. For many people, once the euphoric high from these drugs fades, they are left craving more – thus, starting the dangerous cycle of addiction.
As discussed, many over-the-counter cough syrups were used to contain codeine, particularly before the 1970s. While over-the-counter cough syrups today may no longer have codeine due to legal restrictions, they do, however, contain another derivative of morphine: Dextromethorphan.
Dextromethorphan falls under the class of medications called antitussives due to its sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties. In cough medication, dextromethorphan decreases activity in the part of the brain that tells the body to cough.
Unfortunately, the United States is not the only region experiencing a heavy spike in codeine abuse. For example, Zimbabwe – a nation in Southern Africa – had a massive surge in cough syrup abuse; in particular, BronCleer abuse.
Made by a pharmaceutical company in Africa, BronCleer contains a mixture of alcohol and 16.9% of codeine. This deadly combination of two powerful substances enables users to experience euphoric highs while being intoxicated at the same time.
BronCleer abuse became so bad in Zimbabwe that over 57% of those who were admitted to Zimbabwean mental institutions were there due to extreme side effects of codeine. As a result, officials of Zimbabwe banned this drug in order to stop these increasing overdoses and deaths.
In addition to Africa and the United States, the United Kingdom has also experienced its fair share of problems related to cough syrup abuse, particularly those involving the medication Syndol. This over-the-counter drug contains codeine and is used for treating moderate pain.
Typically, Syndol is recommended to those whose physical symptoms cannot be relieved by common generic pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen. Even though Syndol contains potent levels of codeine, U.K. officials do not require a prescription in order to purchase it.
Not only is this a growing problem for U.K. residents, but also affects those who travel to the country. Syndol is widely available to anyone — resident or visitor — who needs a quick fix for a headache or other bodily pain.
While various legal restrictions in the U.S. have been placed on the distribution of codeine, this has not stopped its continued abuse. Unfortunately, it seems like more and more teens and young adults are abusing codeine recreationally.
For years, recreational drugs such as marijuana have been viewed as the gateway drugs to more serious substance use issues. However, as time goes on, it seems like codeine might be the new alternative to these drugs.
Unfortunately, as users build a tolerance to the effects of codeine, they will typically pursue a more potent variety of opioids like heroin or painkillers. Not to mention, it is not uncommon to become addicted to the pain pills prescribed for chronic, acute, or post-operative pain.
Although codeine is not as potent as morphine, it is still an opiate, and individuals who are using it to treat pain can very easily form an addiction to this drug. This is particularly true for those using BronCleer or codeine-based substances in high doses.
Frequent abusers of codeine may also be more likely to mix this drug with other substances in order to intensify the euphoric “high” it produces. Oftentimes, codeine is mixed with cannabis and smoked. However, many users also mix it with alcohol — also known as “purple drink.”
Amongst these risk factors for substance abuse, another leading cause of addiction is the presence of underlying mental health conditions; in particular, those which have gone undiagnosed or untreated.
Codeine is a dangerous addiction on its own, but when adding mental illness to the equation, it can only get worse. Sadly, individuals who struggle with their mental health are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol – codeine included.
As dependency increases, one’s mental health will only continue to decline, and their symptoms will intensify. Many studies show that, with prolonged use of codeine, symptoms of depression and anxiety can likely cause or worsen certain dysphoric mood states.
Even individuals who abuse codeine that do not have depression, to begin with, are still at an increased risk of developing this disease. This also includes a higher likelihood of developing other mental disorders, such as various mood, personality, and anxiety disorders.
Unfortunately, while simultaneous mental health and substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders, often go hand-in-hand, this does not mean these individuals are untreatable. Many top-tier addiction rehab facilities specialize in treating co-occurring disorders.
With the help of the right team of professionals, individuals can receive treatment for both their mental health and their addiction. This is known as dual diagnosis treatment, a service that is commonly recommended to those struggling with codeine and BronCleer abuse.
Codeine is considered to be a depressant due to the negative impacts it has on the brain and central nervous system. When taken in excess, codeine can slow a person’s breathing drastically, which can be potentially fatal.
If ingested too much, it can stop one’s breathing altogether and even lead to seizures or coma — common signs of overdose. In addition to these fatal overdose effects, the repeated abuse of codeine can cause a variety of serious symptoms and side effects on the body and brain.
There are various short-term side effects that may occur when misusing codeine. While most of these may be minor and can go away on their own, others will be far more uncomfortable and may require professional medical attention in order to be resolved. Common symptoms include:
As a person’s addiction to codeine persists over longer periods of time, especially if regularly taking this drug in higher doses, the side effects of this abuse will only grow more severe. Some of these long-term side effects may include:
If you are an avid user of codeine and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it could mean that your substance abuse has grown into a full-scale addiction. At this point, it is strongly advised that you seek out professional treatment services.
If you neglect to get help for your addiction to codeine, you are opening yourself up to a plethora of health deficits that can affect you for the rest of your life. Not to mention, the more you use, especially if used in large doses, the more likely you are to suffer from a fatal overdose. Common warning signs of codeine overdose include:
If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the above-mentioned overdose symptoms, it’s imperative that you seek help from a medical professional immediately. Overdoses from codeine abuse can be fatal if they are not treated right away.
While codeine abuse is a serious and sometimes fatal addiction, treatment and recovery are still possible. In fact, there are several effective levels of care that individuals struggling with codeine addiction can choose from to aid in their recovery.
Ceasing codeine cold turkey will only cause withdrawal symptoms to intensify, and without the right medical supervision, this process can be life-threatening. This is why many individuals will be recommended to start treatment for their addiction with a medical detox program.
This will allow them to be gradually weaned off of an abused substance under constant medical supervision, helping to manage and prevent many codeine withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox can also help reduce drug cravings, further minimizing a recovering individual’s risk of relapse.
In some cases, medication-assisted treatment is a useful tool in managing the symptoms of common opioid disorders — including codeine addiction. Medications like naloxone and buprenorphine are common drugs that are approved to treat addiction.
Medication-assisted treatment helps to reduce the effects of opioids and, with luck — prevents future relapses. Although these medications are specifically designed to aid in the detox of opioids, they should not be the sole treatment method used in a person’s recovery process.
In fact, it is highly recommended for those struggling with codeine addiction to attend an inpatient or outpatient treatment program for the best recovery results. Many reputable addiction treatment centers are equipped with professionals who are trained to treat a variety of addictions.
Furthermore, these facilities will often offer behavioral and cognitive therapy sessions, as well as general mental health counseling, which can help clients discover the underlying causes of their addiction. Therapy is a cornerstone of addiction treatment that can make a life-changing difference in one’s recovery journey.
The journey to sobriety is a challenging one and requires ultimate strength, determination, and support; but, it is a journey you will never be alone in. Many individuals battling addiction are also struggling with the thought of being alone — that no one understands what they are going through.
But the team at Rehabs Of Armerica does, and we are here for you every step of the way. Our team is available around-the-clock to assist you in getting started on your recovery journey by finding treatment centers near you that provide services capable of serving your unique needs.
After you select the right treatment center, you will be on your way to creating a new and sober life. For more information and recovery resources on codeine addiction, give our 24/7 hotline a call today.
Nicole R. is an experienced and accomplished writer with special interests in the fields of Anthropology, English, and behavioral health, and has written countless articles for newspaper publications, institutional research journals, and Find Addiction Rehabs.
Her alma matter is Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Nicole hopes to spread awareness of and combat the stigmatization surrounding addiction and substance abuse treatment through her writing and work in the field.
