Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin Addiction Statistics

In 2013, hydrocodone was the most frequently dispensed opiate medication, with 136 million prescriptions according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Of these 136 million, Vicodin and Lortab are the most commonly prescribed forms.

For several years, drugs containing hydrocodone like Vicodin have been:

• Seized from the illicit market in large amounts by law enforcement.
• Abused by almost 5 million people over age 12 in the US.
• Abused by high school students at high rates with 1.0% of 8th graders, 3.4% of 10th graders, and 4.8% of 12th graders using Vicodin in the last year.

More than 115 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Vicodin is just one of many opioids prescribed to treat pain from an injury, after surgery, or as part of a plan to control chronic pain.

Opioid abuse, including Vicodin, is a problem in the United States, with 2.3% of the population misusing the drug in 2017. Of the drug overdose deaths in 2017, 68% involved opioids.

• The U.S. makes up 5% of the world’s population and consumes approximately 30% of the world’s prescription opioid drugs.
• Prescription opioid drugs contribute to 40% of all US opioid overdose deaths.
• In 2016, more than 46 people died each day from overdoses involving prescription opioids.
• Prescription opioid overdose rates are highest among people ages 25 to 54 years.
• Overdose rates were higher among non-Hispanic whites and American Indians or Alaskan Natives.
• Men are more likely to die from prescription opioid overdose, but the gap between men and women is decreasing.

Causes of Vicodin Addiction

Since it is an opiate-based drug, Vicodin withdrawal is similar to withdrawing from heroin, morphine, methadone, or codeine. Anyone can experience withdrawal symptoms if they have taken Vicodin over a period of time, usually several weeks or more. Although the symptoms vary by person, most people experience some withdrawal discomfort when they attempt to quit or cut down.

Even patients who took Vicodin exactly as prescribed for pain while recovering from injury or surgery can experience withdrawal.

When you quit taking Vicodin, you may experience feelings of irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. As your body withdraws from the drug, you may feel as if you have a cold or flu, with a stuffy or runny nose, fever, sweats, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Hydrocodone, one of the main ingredients in Vicodin, is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the United States.

Signs and Symptoms of Vicodin Addiction

When Vicodin is taken over a lengthy period of time, you can build up a tolerance to the medication. This means you have to take increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effect. All drugs that are opiate-based can become habit-forming and cause physical dependence.

Once you develop a Vicodin dependence, quitting or cutting back suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. This is because your body needs time to adjust and recover.

Depending on how much and for how long you have been taking Vicodin, the withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to very severe.

Many patients who used the medication only therapeutically and as prescribed, sometimes do not even realize they are experiencing withdrawals. They report they are having flu-like symptoms.

Early withdrawal symptoms include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Muscle aches
• Increased tearing
• Insomnia
• Runny nose
• Sweating
• Yawning

Later symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal include:

• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps
• Nausea and vomiting

Effects of Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin is an extremely addictive drug and since it is often prescribed by the doctors, may not realize they are becoming addicted. It is imperative to recognize the signs and symptoms of Vicodin abuse, so one can recognize when they or their loved one is becoming addicted. Here are some of the common warning signs to look for:

• Slow heartbeat
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Blurred Vision

Like any other drug, Vicodin addiction also has a severe impact on one’s body. While the hydrocodone in Vicodin induces feelings of euphoria, the acetaminophen affects the liver and causes serious damage. Here are some of the effects of Vicodin addiction:

• Itching
• Swelling
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Vomiting and upset stomach
• Liver failure
• Decreased heart rate
• Decreased respiration

Vicodin Addiction Treatment

While Vicodin withdrawal can be unpleasant, there are things you can do to help relieve many of your symptoms.

• Drink plenty of water. Because Vicodin withdrawal can cause vomiting and diarrhea, you need to make sure you are taking in plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration.
• Stay busy. Make sure you have activities that will help you take your mind off of your symptoms. Stock up on reading materials, find some TV shows or movies that you want to watch, or break out the video games to try to keep occupied.
• Control symptoms with OTC medications. You can relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms such as fever and diarrhea with the use of over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDs and antidiarrheals. Always use the correct dose when taking OTC medications and talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual side effects.

You should seek medical help if your withdrawal symptoms become severe or if you begin to show signs of severe dehydration such as sunken eyes, disorientation, rapid breathing, or extreme thirst.

Warnings

There are complications that can be dangerous.

If you vomit and then breathe in stomach contents into the lungs, aspiration can occur, which can cause lung infection or choking. If you experience vomiting and diarrhea, they can cause dehydration as well as chemical and mineral disturbances in your body.

The biggest danger from detoxing from Vicodin and other pain medication takes place when someone decides to start taking the drug again.

The withdrawal process reduces your tolerance for the drug, so if you return to taking Vicodin at the level you previously took it, you have a high risk of overdose.

Most Vicodin overdose deaths happen for people who have recently gone through detox and withdrawal. Overdose can occur even at a much smaller dose than previously taken.

Don't try to quit using Vicodin on your own after heavy or prolonged use. Get someone to stay with you during the withdrawal to support you and watch out for you during the process.

Even better, contact your healthcare providers and tell them you want to detox from Vicodin. They can recommend one of several regimens used to help with the detoxification process. This can include the use of clonidine to reduce anxiety, agitation, muscle aches, sweating, runny nose, and cramping.

They can also provide you with other medications for vomiting and diarrhea to make the process less uncomfortable.

If you find that you cannot quit using Vicodin in spite of all your efforts to stop, you may want to seek a professional treatment program to help you with your dependence.

Recovery

After you’ve completed a detox program for Valium addiction, you can continue your treatment with a long-term rehab program. Continuing your addiction treatment after detox can help you address the psychological problems related to your addiction and pinpoint the primary causes of your addictive behaviors.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction treatment that lasts less than 90 days has limited effectiveness, especially for those who want to sustain long-term sobriety. As a result, if your intention is to get sober and stay that way, you may want to consider enrolling in a 90-day drug rehab program after detox.

If you’ve never been to drug rehab, there are a few things you can expect. During rehab, clients attend educational lectures about the disease of addiction, work the 12 steps (or similar recovery program), learn and implement relapse prevention strategies, attend group and individual counseling, and gain important life skills while adhering to a structured daily schedule.

Overall, drug and alcohol rehab is designed to help individuals get down to the root causes of their addiction and learn how to maintain a lifestyle of sobriety on their own.

After you complete drug rehab, you may also choose to continue your addiction treatment with a sober living program or aftercare program. Other forms of aftercare may include:

• Peer recovery support programs
• Personal monitoring programs

Aftercare programs are specifically designed to support alumni of detox and rehab programs. Many people use aftercare as a way to check-in with their sober peers on a regular basis. Otherwise, weekly aftercare meetings offer a safe, supportive, and judgment-free zone where people in recovery can share successes and struggles pertaining to life in recovery. Aftercare programs can be extremely therapeutic and supportive for people in any stage of recovery.

An addict cannot get through it alone. Vicodin addiction treatment should be approached in holistic manner including intensive therapy, behavioral therapies and support that leading rehab centers provide. If you are fighting urges to use, even if you believe the problem is under control, call us right now at 855-706-9275. Our helpline representatives can answer your questions and provide you with tips for immediate treatment options at the appropriate recovery center in your area.