That is where the Scratch and Fluff names come from. Many factors go into Vicodin abuse and addiction, including family history. It is well documented that people with direct relatives known to abuse drugs are more likely to abuse Vicodin if given a prescription. Abusers with a family history of addiction are also more likely to eventually find themselves addicted to the Vicodin they are using. Those at greatest risk have first generation family members mothers, fathers, siblings who also abuse drugs.
It is believed that because addiction is both a physical and psychological disease, some people with underlying mental health issues may be more susceptible to abusing and being addicted to Vicodin. This could explain the incidence of dual diagnosis scenarios in Vicodin treatment. We already know that pleasurable feelings are a strong motivator in drug abuse. People sometimes use Vicodin to escape the world around them. Their environments are so stressful that they look for something to relieve the stress.
Users may eventually discover that they are unable to cope in any other way. Vicodin abuse is a growing problem. More people are using Vicodin for reasons other than pain management. According to data from , roughly million Vicodin prescriptions were dispensed in that year. More recent statistics suggest that Vicodin abuse rates have quadrupled over the last decade. Because of the substantial risk of addiction associated with Vicodin, the US FDA advised in that the drug be taken off the market.
It was restricted as a result, but never completely taken away. Today, Vicodin abuse continues to be a huge problem in the States. We are much more reticent about prescribing Vicodin and other opiates in Europe, so our abuse and addiction rates are estimated to be much lower.
In a May report on opiate abuse in the UK, author Mark Greener suggested that we may be in for our own opiate crisis if we follow the example of the US. Greener cited statistics from England and Wales that suggested some 7.
He went on to cite other statistics that show a measurable rise in prescription drug abuse covering everything from opiates to benzodiazepines.
It would be unwise for us to assume that a lack of statistical data means that Vicodin abuse and addiction are not something we need to worry about. Co-occurring disorders diagnosed alongside opiate addiction are more common than most people realise.
The top three co-occurring disorders are:. Depression — Clinical depression is a disorder characterised by a persistent state of low mood accompanied by a reluctance to engage in any kind of activity. Anxiety — Anxiety is classified by the mental health community as a group of disorders characterised by serious feelings of anxiety and fear. People suffering from clinical anxiety often worry about both current and future events at a level that may seem excessive to others.
Bipolar disorder — Sometimes referred to as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterised by alternating episodes of mania elevated mood and depression.
People suffering from bipolar disorder are known to have mood swings that can be excessive at times. Patients diagnosed with co-occurring disorders are said to have a dual diagnosis. Making a dual diagnosis is not always the easiest thing for doctors to do. Because some of the symptoms of drug abuse mimic mental disorders. Doctors have to determine if their observations indicate a true co-occurring disorder or just a symptomatic effect of abusing Vicodin.
The challenge of co-occurring disorders as they relate to opiate abuse and addiction is determining the extent to which each one affects the other. Doctors and therapists must make every effort to treat both conditions simultaneously without risking making one of them worse.
Moreover, not every addiction clinic in the UK is equipped to handle co-occurring disorders. There is a huge need to contact a qualified treatment centre if you or someone you love is suffering from co-occurring disorders. Failing to get the right kind of treatment could have wide-ranging consequences. Vicodin is an immensely powerful drug with sedating effects on the mind and body.
It should always be used with caution Furthermore, it should never be mixed with other drugs with sedative effects. The first drug that comes to mind is alcohol. Mixing Vicodin with alcohol is a way to increase the sedating effects of both. But it is also a way to increase the deadly potential of reduced respiration and heart rate. You should never combine Vicodin with alcohol — no matter how little the alcohol volume is.
Users should never mix Vicodin with other opiates either. Anyone thinking of taking Vicodin and heroin together, for example, should think twice. No level of euphoria is worth risking your life to experience. Remember that Vicodin also contains paracetamol acetaminophen in addition the hydrocodone. Mixing Vicodin with other over-the-counter acetaminophen products can lead to upset stomach and internal bleeding.
Mixing the drugs over an extended amount of time could eventually result in stomach ulcers, liver damage, and more. In short, never mix up Vicodin with any other psychoactive drug.
If you are using Vicodin under prescription, be absolutely sure to inform your doctor about any other drugs you are currently using. This includes over-the-counter drugs you may believe are innocuous. Only a doctor is qualified to say whether it is safe for you to continue using those other drugs while you are taking Vicodin. It is rare for patients using Vicodin under the supervision of a doctor to become addicted. But it is possible. Addiction is more likely among people who go above and beyond prescriptions or simply use Vicodin recreationally.
Thankfully, there are successful addiction treatments available to Vicodin users. We offer residential treatment facilities across the UK offering excellent treatment programmes. Anyone suffering from Vicodin addiction can contact us to learn more about the many options. A comprehensive treatment includes a physical and mental evaluation, medically-assisted detox, rehabilitative therapies, and aftercare services. When residential treatment is not possible, Vicodin addicts can choose outpatient treatment provided both privately and publicly.
Outpatient treatment is an entirely different model that might be better suited to some needs. In the absence of a structured residential or outpatient treatment, Vicodin addicts can arrange for their own private counselling and attend support group meetings. The takeaway here is that treatment for Vicodin addiction is available. You just have to be willing to seek it out. A Vicodin addict will undergo detox as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Detox in the modern era is both medically supervised and assisted, with patient health being the number one priority.
If you would like to know more about Vicodin detox, one of our professionally trained counsellors would be more than happy to walk you through the details. One of the tell-tale signs of addiction is that withdrawal symptoms begin to appear between doses. If you are addicted to Vicodin, a withdrawal will be necessary for you to get well. Plan on it being part of the detox process. Overcoming addiction means permanently stopping Vicodin use, and stopping means you are going to have to go through withdrawal.
The power of Vicodin as an addictive substance means it is very difficult for addicts to overcome their problem without going into rehab.
But it is wise. Rehab addresses issues that detox cannot. Furthermore, rehab sets the addict up for a drug-free future by equipping him or her with knowledge and life skills. Any OTC medicine with psychoactive effects is subject to abuse and addiction. This includes Vicodin, hydrocodone, and other opiates. The mind and body can become so dependent on the medication that it becomes impossible for the user to live without it.
So yes, misuse of OTC medications can lead to addiction. More often than not, drugs are administered to either reverse the effects of the medication or prevent the body from absorbing any more of it. Sometimes it becomes necessary to induce vomiting.
Finally, other medications may be used to counteract overdose symptoms like a respiratory and cardiac arrest. Spotting a Vicodin addiction requires knowing what signs to look for. Some of the more common signs are mood swings, an inability to concentrate, and bouts of dizziness and weakness. You can learn about all the warning signs of Vicodin addiction by researching the information here on our website.
Note that there are both physical and psychological warning signs. Learn to recognise both. Other potentially addictive drugs may be used along the way, but the goal is never to merely substitute one addiction with another.
All addictions are bad in a general sense. To say that Vicodin addiction is more or less serious than an addiction to another drug is to discount the personal nature of addiction. Yes, Vicodin addiction is bad. It is bad enough to require professional medical help to beat it. How bad your addiction might be if you abuse Vicodin would be subject to a variety of factors. As previously stated, the only true cure for addiction is permanent abstinence.
Vicodin addiction is no different. Treatments are focused around the dual goals of detoxifying the body and equipping patients to live the rest of their lives without Vicodin.
However, that state only lasts as long as the person continues to maintain abstinence. To that end, support group participation and private counselling are indispensable tools for preventing relapse. The best way to help a Vicodin addict is to offer love and support without enabling the addiction. You can provide a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. You can seek out treatment options and then explain those options to your friend or loved one.
You can even work with a therapist to conduct an intervention. The one thing you cannot do is force a Vicodin addict into treatment. Call A treatment facility paid to have their center promoted here. Learn more about how to be featured in a paid listing. Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Chats will be received and answered by one of treatment providers listed below, each of which is a paid advertiser:.
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How Much Does Treatment Cost? What Is Inpatient Drug Rehab? Should I Go Back to Rehab? Get professional rehab and addiction education from a qualified doctor today! Vicodin Defined Vicodin is a prescription Painkiller developed for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Meet Dr. Bhatt Medical Content Director. Get Help During COVID With just 30 days at a rehab center, you can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and learn ways to manage your cravings.
Looking for a place to start? Reach out to a treatment provider for free today. Volkow, Nora. Showing 4 of 16 Centers. Confidentially speak with a treatment provider: Call Chat. Access to top treatment centers Caring, supportive guidance Financial assistance options. Make a Call - Or - Request a Call. Where do calls go? Despite concerns about its addictive nature, use of hydrocodone-based drugs is on the increase, and the only opiate more commonly used is oxycodone. According to figures by the FDA, an estimated 2.
Opiates are commonly used by older adults, so as the Department of Health and Human Services explains, they are one of the groups at greatest risk of prescription drug abuse and owing to the difference in their metabolism and health, they may be more vulnerable to adverse Vicodin effects.
Just like other opiates, the hydrocodone component of Vicodin attaches to opiate receptors in the body, which are located in your brain and spinal cord.
This attachment not only blocks the sensation of pain, but also triggers feelings of euphoria by enhancing brain levels of dopamine. Opiate drugs are able to increase production of this feel-good chemical by reducing the release of another messenger, known as GABA, which usually inhibits the release of dopamine.
These pleasurable feelings encourage users to repeat the experience, whether using the drug for legitimate purposes or with the intention of achieving a high.
Pain relief and extreme positive feelings are not the only effects Vicodin has. As with any medication, using Vicodin has some potential side-effects, and while not everyone experiences these, if you are taking large doses frequently as may occur if you have developed a reliance on the drug , you are more likely to suffer from these.
Among the adverse effects listed by drug database Drugs. Chronic use of opiates can also lead to other problems, some of which may have a lasting impact on your health. While addiction is one of these, according to an article in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the other long term effects of Vicodin include tooth decay, reduced bone density, chronic constipation, an obstructed bowel, lowered immune function and a heart attack.
While careful monitoring of opiate use can minimize these risks to health, with the unchecked use of Vicodin during abuse, the likelihood of these increases. As Vicodin also contains acetaminophen, which can sometimes cause liver damage, yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes should never be ignored, as this is a sign of jaundice.
As the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains, the flood of dopamine that your brain receives activates the reward circuit, which is designed with the intention of encouraging us to repeat positive experiences beneficial to us.
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