Codeine addiction has been the cause of over 40 deaths in Ireland, 17 of which occurred last year alone.
The Irish Sun reveals a senior doctor has recently written to Minister Stephen Donnelly, warning him of a 'secret codeine epidemic'.
The drug is mainly used alongside a decongestant, and can be found in many over the counter brands.
Doctor's are calling for that to no longer be the case, due to its addictive nature.
