Painkillers with codeine will no longer be readily available over the counter and this is expected to lead to national withdrawal. Beginning February 1, 2018, codeine-containing painkillers will only be available in Australia through prescriptions to avoid its misuse. Present laws allow the purchase of cough medicines and painkillers even without a prescription but authorities believe it has only increased the risk of addiction.
Australia is however not the first country to prohibit the selling of over-the-counter codeine since other countries such as HongKong, the United States, Japan and most of Europe already require a prescription for medications that are opioid-based. The possibility of addiction on codeine is not a myth though as it has been confirmed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia which said misuse of codeine products sold over-the-counter can lead to health problems such as stomach ulceration, liver damage, and even death.
BBC said TGA has recommended new treatment plans for patients who have become reliant on codeine products. A 2013 survey by the National Household Drug Survey shows that the use of pain medications for non-medical purposes is common among 5.8% of Australians. Research also shows that dependence on codeine has tripled in the past ten years.
TGA has announced that even Nurofen Plus will no longer be available over-the-counter without a prescription. ABC said the move by TGA considered the significant effects of the medication on the wellbeing of people considering that the number of people with codeine-related problems is on the rise. However, this could mean more funding needed for those on withdrawal from codeine addiction.
"There is going to have to be dedicated funds and treatment services allocated to respond to this problem," said Senior Research Fellow Suzanne Nielsen of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC). The move could result to mass withdrawals which could pose a bigger problem in areas where help is not readily available.
Codeine, according to Healthline, is used for the treatment of pain and comes in a tablet of syrup form. The drug is widely used but is highly addictive so anyone who is suddenly cut off from codeine can expect withdrawal symptoms.
