Codeine abuse

Codeine (methylmorphine) has a prominent and legitimate place in medicine as it is used extensively as an effective cough-suppressant (anti-tussive) and as a mild analgesic with a comparative low addictive potential. Because of that fact, codeine and some of its congeners with similar properties are subject to fewer restrictions under international law. This means that codeine is more easily available to those who wish to abuse it.