[Codeine and dihydrocodeine as substitute and alternative drugs].

There has been an increasing tendency in West Germany since the beginning of the 60s to abuse codeine and dihydrocodeine-containing drugs as substitutes and alternative drugs. This paper will firstly look at this situation from an epidemiological point of view and summarize the chemical and pharmacological effects, the side effects and toxicology of both kinds of substances. On the basis of own case reports the importance of codeine and dihydrocodeine during the development of an addiction of polydrug addicts and opiate addicts has been revealed, analysed and discussed, also with a view to the legal aspects in connection with the issue of treatment by substitution of drug dependents.