Learn More About Vicodin Addiction
Prescribed by doctors for treating moderate to severe pain, Vicodin is a powerful narcotic that is often given to patients who need help managing chronic pain or pain from a recent surgery. It is highly effective and made from a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. However, because of the hydrocodone, using Vicodin also carries with it several risks, most notably the chance of forming an addiction.
When taken in higher doses, Vicodin produces a euphoric high. This makes it popular for recreational users and is the primary reason that people abuse Vicodin, as well as the easiest path to becoming addicted.
A Vicodin addiction is extremely dangerous and can easily destroy a person’s life when left untreated. For this reason, it is important to act fast and contact a rehab center for professional help if the signs of a Vicodin addiction present themselves. Doing so will allow you or your loved one to receive the necessary care and attention it takes to break free from your substance use disorder.
Contact Brookdale today to receive the highest quality of treatment services to begin your life…recovered. Call us now at 855-575-1292
The drug Vicodin is a brand name prescription painkiller made from hydrocodone and acetaminophen, which are both used individually to help manage pain. When they are combined, they work together to amplify each other’s effects by combating pain in multiple ways. Of these two ingredients, the semi-synthetic opioid hydrocodone is the most powerful and a core component as to why Vicodin is dangerous when used improperly. Like any strong opioid, it presents a risk for addiction, increasing Vicodin’s risk as it is a main ingredient found in the medication.
Vicodin was first released in 1978 by a pharmaceutical company called Knoll, who developed it while exploring the potential of mixing hydrocodone (which had been around since the 1920s) with other substances to improve pain treatment. The drug was a success and since then has become one of the most commonly prescribed narcotics in the medical world, as well as one of the most abused.
The appearance of Vicodin can vary, but most of the time it is available as a white, oval-shaped pill. The pill will have the milligram dosage imprinted on it, and in some cases will have a perforated line on one side. The reason for this line is to make the pill easier to split into two parts for situations where a full pill is a larger dose than a doctor is prescribing.
When taken illicitly, it is common for users to crush the pill into a powder so it can be snorted or mixed with liquid for intravenous use. The reason for doing either option is to speed up the effects of Vicodin. This is extremely dangerous because it makes it increases the chance of accidental overdose or adverse side effects taking effect.
Since taking Vicodin without a legitimate prescription is illegal, drug dealers and users have developed a variety of street names that they use to refer to the drug without drawing attention. The reason for doing this to avoid police and any other individuals that users want to hide their use from, such as family members.
It is important to keep in mind that this list is not static and new nicknames are always being developed to make illicit use more difficult to spot. As a result, just because someone is not using a name from this list, does not guarantee that they are not using Vicodin.
Vicodin is labeled as a Schedule II controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Its position in this class is because it presents a high addictive risk, but also has valuable medical uses. The key reason that Vicodin is so addictive stems from the semi-synthetic opioid hydrocodone that is used to make it. This substance is a risk on its own and continues to be one when mixed with other chemicals.
Hydrocodone is habit-forming because when taken in a strong dose, it creates a euphoric rush in the body by prompting the brain to release a flood of pleasure chemicals. These chemicals are found naturally within the body and are normally released in response to positive stimuli like achieving a goal. However, the normal amounts are minimal compared to what hydrocodone makes the body release, thus overwhelming the central nervous system.
Since the body is an adaptive system, repeated Vicodin use alters the brain and body to handle the rush more effectively. The process of doing this is known as developing a tolerance, and when this happens it will require a user to take more hydrocodone over time to achieve the same effects. Doing this increases the risks that come with the drug, and eventually leads to the body forming a dependence, a process where the body comes to rely on it the substance function properly. When this happens, withdrawal symptoms can take effect if a person has gone too long without using hydrocodone, making it harder to quit and rewiring the brain to recognize drug use as an instinctual act, rather than a conscious choice.
In many cases, a person with a Vicodin addiction may not realize they have a problem, or they may choose to hide it out of shame, fear or simply a desire to continue using the drug. In these cases, knowing the side effects of the drug beyond pain relief and the euphoric high is a valuable way to help spot when a person is abusing Vicodin. At later stages or during an overdose, several of these may even become permanent.
It can be useful to know some of the statistics for Vicodin to better understand the drug and the risks associated with it. In certain cases, these can also offer valuable insight into the larger impact of Vicodin on society.
A few statistics include:
When an individual has developed an addiction to Vicodin, it can be extremely difficult and even dangerous to quit because of the properties found in Vicodin. However, with the support of experienced and licensed professionals, effective treatment can take place, providing individuals a pathway to a life of recovery.
Treatment for substance use disorders, such as an addiction to Vicodin, can involve various phases of care. This can include inpatient care, partial hospitalization, outpatient therapy and sober living. Most often, when an addicted person enters an inpatient treatment center, they begin the process with detoxification, otherwise known as detox.
Detox is often considered an especially difficult step in the treatment process, but nevertheless, a core component to ongoing sobriety. During this stage of care, all addictive substances are slowly removed from the body under the proper supervision of medical personnel. This is done to ensure that each person receives the safest, most effective interventions while experiencing adverse effects, such as withdrawal symptoms. While Vicodin withdrawal symptoms can vary for each person, some of the most common include anxiety, nausea and insomnia. In some scenarios, patients may also experience other potential health conditions, which are properly treated on an individual basis.
Once a patient has successfully completed detox, they will begin the transition into the residential portion of treatment. In residential care, clinicians work closely with the individual to construct customized treatment plans to suit their specific needs, utilizing various therapeutic modalities. This level of care is crucial to sobriety as it allows the patient to begin addressing underlying causes of their disease, while learning healthy coping mechanisms to combat future cravings and potential obstacles after rehab. Some therapeutic practices patients can expect to participate in include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT), 12-Step integration, family education, recreational therapy, relapse prevention, holistic treatment options and so much more.
Before leaving inpatient treatment, the clinical team will devise a comprehensive aftercare plan that is most conducive to that patient’s recovery journey. Recovery is an ongoing process that requires continued support, which may include extended care, outpatient therapy and introduction to local recovery communities such as AA and NA. These resources will help each person maintain their goals toward a life…recovered.
If you or a loved one is currently suffering from a substance use disorder, the time to get help is NOW! At Brookdale, it is our goal to provide each person with the highest quality of treatment services, while offering essential resources to affected family members. Here, you can begin to break free from the bonds of addiction and rebuild your future for a life…recovered.
Contact our Admissions Specialists now at 855-575-1292 to begin the process.
