Participant | Gender (F/M) | Initial type of pain | Subsequent reasons for codeine use | Time between first and last use | Source of obtaining codeine | Severity of Dependence Scale score | Intervention and treatment |
1 | M | Headache. | To reduce stress. | 7 years. | Prescription, OTC, obtained from family. | 15* | Residential rehabilitation programme. |
2 | F | Dysentery. | Recreational purposes and to reduce stress. | 1 year. | Prescription and OTC. | 4 | None. |
3 | F | Pain after an operation. | To sleep, to reduce stress and for depression. | 1 month. | Prescription. | 7* | GP support and counselling. |
4 | F | Period pain. | 15 years. | Prescription. | 12* | GP support. | |
5 | F | Injury. | To sleep and recreational purposes. | 15 years. | Prescription and OTC. | 8* | None. |
6 | F | Deep vein thrombosis from heroin use. | Used when heroin unavailable. | 8 years. | Prescription and OTC. | 11* | Previously in residential rehabilitation. At time of interview none. |
7 | F | Pain after an operation. | For anxiety. | 10 years. | Prescription and OTC. | 14* | None. |
8 | F | Back pain. | 20 years. | Prescription. | 7* | None. | |
9 | F | Head injury. | To reduce stress and to sleep. | 2 years. | Prescription and OTC. | 10* | None. |
10 | F | Migraines. | To reduce stress and to sleep. | 25 years. | Prescription. | 2 | None. |
11 | M | Migraines and back pain. | For anxiety and for depression. | 14 years. | Prescription, OTC and internet. | 0 | Private psychiatry and private pain specialist. |
12 | F | Arthritis. | 2 years. | Prescription and OTC. | 5* | None. | |
13 | M | Headache and later osteoarthritis. | For anxiety, recreational purposes. | 15 years. | Prescription, OTC and obtained from family. | 1 | None. |
14 | F | Arthritis. | 3 years. | OTC. | 6* | None. | |
15 | F | Migraines, back pain and irritable bowel syndrome. | To sleep. | 8 years. | OTC and obtained from a friend. | 2 | None. |
16 | F | Ulcers. | To sleep. | 4 months. | OTC. | 0 | None. |
*Scores of 5 and above indicate probable psychological dependence on codeine.
F, female; M, male; OTC, over the counter.