Opioids National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA

Help prevent opioid misuse in your family and community by storing opioid medicines securely while you use them. In the U.S., find the closest Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations on a website https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) maintains. Or contact your local law enforcement agency or your trash and recycling service for information about local medicine takeback programs.

Vicodin Addiction, Abuse, And Treatment

• People often get hydrocodone and other opioids from family members or friends.
• Symptoms of hydrocodone abuse include drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, and flushed skin.
• Everyone plays an important role in breaking the grip that opioids have on communities and their residents.
• Researchers are also investigating the long-term effects of opioid addiction on the brain, including whether damage can be reversed.

Controlled substances are drugs or medications that have the potential to be misused and have a high risk of leading to substance use disorder. Substances are drugs, chemicals or medications that have addiction potential. A substance addiction is a chronic condition that causes you to seek out and use substances despite harmful consequences. What makes opioid medicines effective for treating pain also can make them dangerous. Vicodin addiction is notorious for being fatal to the social life of anyone who suffers from it.

• Substances are any type of medication or chemical that has addiction potential.
• The side effects of hydrocodone can be mild or severe, and prolonged use can increase a person’s risk for significant health problems.
• Quitting on your own may mean serious withdrawal symptoms that can hurt a person, family, and entire life.
• Hydrocodone binds to opioid receptor sites in the central nervous system and changes the brain’s emotional response to pain.
• This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction.

Treatment for Vicodin Withdrawal

Follow all instructions about how to manage your withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to know more about the substances your provider prescribes or the products within your vicodin addiction household. Even a few episodes of substance misuse can lead to tolerance and dependence (addiction). When you take a substance, a surge of dopamine happens in your brain.

Vicodin Overdose

Vicodin is a prescription painkiller developed for the relief of moderate to severe pain. It is a prescription tablet of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The hydrocodone in Vicodin is a synthetic opioid, which activates the same neurotransmitters as opiate drugs such as heroin. Vicodin addiction treatment typically begins with detoxification to rid the body of the drug and its toxins. In addition to medical support and counseling, patients may also enjoy alternative therapy options to ease their journey toward recovery. Along the way, patients will learn the necessary coping skills for addiction to help them avoid relapse and maintain a happy and healthy sober life free from Vicodin.

• How long it takes to taper off your medicine depends on the type and dose of the opioid you’ve been taking and how long you’ve been taking it.
• An opioid overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death.
• One of the negative complications of Vicodin abuse is liver damage or failure caused by the acetaminophen in the drug.
• If you suspect someone has overdosed, the most important step to take is to call 911 so he or she can receive immediate medical attention.
• The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies hydrocodone as a Schedule II substance.

FIND TREATMENT:

Generally, doctors may decide to write a hydrocodone (brand name Vicodin®) prescription to treat short-term pain following dental surgery or for injury-related pain. However, due to the addictive nature of opioids, regular use of hydrocodone can be habit-forming. Once the body becomes dependent on hydrocodone to feel normal, trying to quit taking them will result in symptoms of withdrawal. To mitigate withdrawal, individuals should treat their hydrocodone addiction through detox and rehab. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. Like in the case of other opioids, physical dependence usually also leads to psychological addiction. More than only trying to relieve pain, people start craving Vicodin and obsessing over it.

Treatment Options for Vicodin Abuse

Yes, repeated misuse of prescription opioids can lead to a substance use disorder (SUD), a medical illness which ranges from mild to severe and from temporary to chronic. An SUD develops when continued misuse of the drug changes the brain and causes health problems and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. Some opioid use disorder experts now recommend that healthcare professionals interview family members as part of routine follow-up care for a person taking opioids.

In addition, hydrocodone, the active ingredient in Vicodin, can slow breathing, especially in older adults or people with lung problems. Vicodin can be a dangerous medication alone, but combining it with other drugs or alcohol can make it even more dangerous. As a result, it is important to be cautious when taking other medications with Vicodin. Before taking other medications, it is important to check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are safe to take with Vicodin. Vicodin contains the active ingredients hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Both substances can be dangerous in high doses, and taking too much Vicodin can lead to an overdose.

• If you have withdrawal symptoms, tell your healthcare team right away.
• Addiction is a complex psychosocial phenomenon, and many factors contribute to a Vicodin addiction.
• When used as directed by your doctor, opioid medicines safely help control severe pain, such as pain you may have after surgery.
• Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding.