Vicodin is a brand-name hydrocodone-acetaminophen pain reliever that doctors prescribe patients. Typically, it’s given to patients who are injured or have just completed surgery. While the drug is effective at relieving pain, it can be very addictive. Many people who begin using Vicodin because of legitimate injuries develop a dependency on the drug. The drug is so addictive because it gives people a sense of euphoria, and people frequently experience painful symptoms if they stop taking it. Overcoming opioid addiction is a tough road that affects so many Americans today.
Know the Signs of Vicodin Addiction
Spotting Vicodin addiction can be difficult. After all, many times people gain access to Vicodin from doctors who prescribe the drug to them. It’s perfectly legitimate to use it, they think. This is true, but oftentimes patients continue to use the drug long after they fully heal. Patients use the drug not for pain relief, but to experience the high they get from taking the drug. They can begin to mix Vicodin with alcohol and other drugs because it will increase its effects. Eventually, an addict must take Vicodin to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety or depression. Their bodies scream at them for more of the drug. Someone who can’t function well without taking Vicodin is showing signs of addiction.
Addicts Need a Support System
So many Vicodin addicts use the drug to mask other problems in their lives. They may have experienced some form of trauma or struggle with depression, and Vicodin offers a temporary escape. One of the basic steps in overcoming Vicodin addiction is to seek a support system that can carry an addict through difficult times. The recovery from addiction is never smooth. Loved ones who can be there during trials to offer support make a huge difference.
Professional Help
Withdrawal from a Vicodin addiction can be dangerous because going cold-turkey when the body has developed a chemical dependency on a drug can trigger sicknesses that can be debilitating, and even fatal. Most addicts require close monitoring from addiction and medical professionals to see them through. Even then, addiction patients will experience difficult physical symptoms as they come off the drug. Rehabilitation centers can make patients comfortable during the weeks-long withdrawal process. Additionally, they can often provide much-needed therapy to address underlying issues that led to addiction.
Substance Intervention has over 20 years of experience helping with drug and alcohol addiction. We connect people struggling with addiction to resources that can provide the treatment they need. If you or your loved one is caught in Vicodin addiction, contact us today to see how we can help.
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