As Bihar approaches a decade of alcohol prohibition, codeine cough syrups have surged as a cheap substitute, with seizures and addiction cases rising, especially among youngsters and in rural areas. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) this week seized 7,500 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup from outside the Rajendranagar Terminal Railway Station in Patna. The alcohol ban reduced overt alcohol harm but fuelled an underground market for opioid alternatives, straining police, hospitals, and de-addiction centres. Codeine is a naturally occurring opioid derived from morphine, a compound found in the opium poppy. Used primarily as a cough suppressant, it is found in various medicines, particularly cough syrups, where it works by suppressing the brain’s cough centre. It is commonly prescribed for upper respiratory infections or chronic conditions like bronchitis, which cause persistent dry coughs. However, it is not the first-line treatment for the common cold.…