Codeine-laden painkillers stay on sale

Note: Nurofen Plus is a combination of ibuprofen and codeine.

From News.com.au:
Heavy-duty painkillers containing codeine will remain available over the counter but pack sizes could be reduced to stop drug abuse, a government committee has ruled.

Doctors and pharmacists have welcomed a decision not to reclassify codeine combination medicines such as Nurofen Plus as prescription-only.

The drug class was under investigation due to mounting claims of serious medical complications among addicted Australians, with one online forum suggesting 7000 people were hooked.

A report released last month linked high use to serious side-effects, like perforated stomach ulcers and renal failure, and death. ...more