I’m a married father of two with a secret codeine addiction – I take 40 pills a day

Codeine addiction is on the rise in the UK. In 2021, data from the Office for National Statistics found that annual deaths involving codeine in England and Wales had risen from 88 deaths in 2011 to 200. This year, one survey found that roughly 10 million people in the UK may be at risk of codeine dependency thanks to their frequent use of strong, over-the-counter painkillers. Michael*, 54, from London, hated drugs. Then, one day, he hurt his back. Here, he shares his story. I was never into drugs. When I went out raving in my twenties, I tried MDMA twice but didn’t like the feeling of being high. I thought of drug addicts as people who probably spent their entire days watching daytime TV. Didn’t take care of their bodies or exercise. Didn’t have regular jobs. But here I am – 54, married wi