Increasing reports of the syrup being used to create "Purple Drank" or "Lean," a recreational drink that can lead to serious health consequences.

Concerns that the ease of purchase was leading to opioid dependency and accidental overdoses.

In the UK, buying codeine syrup (often known as ) changed significantly in early 2024. The Law: Prescription Only

There were approximately 250 serious or fatal adverse reactions to codeine-containing medicines reported in both 2022 and 2023. How to get it now

As of , codeine linctus has been reclassified as a prescription-only medicine (POM) . It is no longer available to buy over the counter (OTC) in pharmacies, even under a pharmacist's supervision. Why the change?

Since codeine is now restricted, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and NHS suggest several alternatives: