Vicodin is a potent drug made from mixing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It’s typically prescribed to patients to deal with pain after surgery or serious injury because it blocks pain receptors and gives patients a feeling of euphoria. It’s the most popular opioid in the United States, and its high availability and potency mean it’s ripe for abuse. Many Americans deal with Vicodin dependency that can be debilitating. Understanding substance abuse and how it affects those around us is the start of helping people overcome struggles with opioid addiction. Vicodin detox takes dedication, love
Address Dependency Issues
It’s common for people who are prescribed Vicodin to become so reliant on the drug that they become physically dependent. It’s also widely available as a street drug. When people develop a dependency to Vicodin, they struggle when it’s not in their system. Withdrawal symptoms can kick in in only 6 hours after the latest dose, and initial symptoms are like catching the flu. Addicts can experience diarrhea, trouble sleeping, agitation, shakes, sweating, vomiting and other symptoms.
In addition to physical dependency, users develop a mental dependency on Vicodin. They crave the euphoria and numbing effects of the drug to push away traumatic experiences or attain a sense of escape. Mental addition to opioids can be as strong as physical addiction, and successful Vicodin detox involves understanding root causes for dependency. Addicts and those around them need to know what will happen as they come off the drug and what to expect.
Safe Withdrawal
Coming of an addictive drug like Vicodin needs to be approached with caution. There is low risk of cardiac arrest, dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, seizures and aspiration. Withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a week to months after a person stops taking Vicodin, so detoxes should be attempted with the help of experts.
As people stick with treatment and stay off Vicodin, they’ll start to see their condition gradually improve. After a couple weeks, appetite should return, and the worst of withdrawal symptoms should be over. It’s possible that some people will still experience muscle pain. It’s important that people coming off opioids have people around them that understand the condition and can help them through the worst of times.
Effective Support System
Vicodin detox requires a strong support system of family and friends around whoever is coming off the drug. They need to be there to stem any depression or anxiety, and deal with symptoms that arise during withdrawal that can drive people to relapse. The available support for addicts varies widely in cost and comfort. Some people attempt to detox with only a small group of friends to help, while others seek out specialized detox centers to stay for a while.
Substance Intervention is made of up interventionists in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. They treat every case with personalized service that considers the needs and condition of each addict. If someone you know needs a Vicodin detox, reach out to us to speak with someone about how we can help.
Leave a Reply