Polka you can still buy Co-codomol, the difference in this is the sedative effect. The codeine isn't why they removed it from sale.
And I do agree, i'm not sure people realise how addictive codeine is, I ended up with an addiction to it after of agonising toothache. The withdrawal was hideous and I was so shocked when I realised it was stopping taking the co-codomol tablets once my tooth was sorted.