Hydrocodone is a strong painkiller that is frequently prescribed as Vicodin, which also contains acetaminophen. While acetaminophen is only a mild pain reliever by itself, it increases the potency of hydrocodone, making it a more powerful painkiller. However, as hydrocodone is a narcotic, this makes Vicodin and other preparations that contain this opiate highly addictive. Addiction to hydrocodone can develop as a consequence of receiving a long-term prescription for the drug, but equally recreational use of opiates also explains why a growing number of people are now dependent on this habit-forming drug. Once hooked on hydrocodone this is not only bad news for your health, but it can also have a devastating impact on your life in other ways. While avoiding abuse of hydrocodone is preferable, if you develop a habit for this opiate, there are opiate addiction programs available that can help you successfully withdraw from hydrocodone and stay abstinent.
Hydrocodone Effects
Like other opiates, hydrocodone exerts its effects by acting through the opiate receptors in your central nervous system. Binding to these receptors offers pain relief, but this is not the only consequence of this action. According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, other positive effects of opiate binding that you may feel include feelings of euphoria and relaxation, which helps to explain why abuse of hydrocodone takes place. Beyond these pleasant changes in your body, opiate use brings with it a range of adverse effects. As the University of Michigan discusses, some of the adverse effects of hydrocodone include:- Increased blood pressure and pulse
- Seizures
- Confusion or hallucinations
- Muscle tremors or rigidity
- Depression
- Feeling anxious
- Dizziness, drowsiness and weakness
- Nausea, vomiting or constipation
- Vision changes
Hydrocodone Abuse
Although drug misuse is more commonly linked to the illicit opiate heroin and other street drugs like cocaine and crystal meth, more people abuse prescription medications than illegal drugs. Prescription painkillers are a popular choice for drug abuse, and while Oxycodone is favored for its high, research reported by Washington University in St Louis showed that hydrocodone is the second favorite. Women and older people in particular seem to favor hydrocodone and are more likely to access the drug legally from their doctor or through acquaintances rather than obtaining it from a dealer. However, abusing prescription opiates is common among high school students too, with Vicodin the fourth most popular drug among twelfth graders, and the most popular opiate, as discussed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Even though Vicodin is a strong painkiller with potentially deadly effects, there is still a misconception that because it is a prescribed medication it must be safer than heroin. This is simply not the case though, as it is just as addictive and just as dangerous. However, this myth is helping to fuel drug abuse across the age groups and social spectrum. There are various ways in which Vicodin users may abuse the drug, and again, none is safer than another. For example, some people use hydrocodone tablets prescribed for someone else, with patients often oblivious to the dangers of sharing their leftover medication, particularly with teens and young adults, even if they have a genuine reason to take the pills. Taking Vicodin for another purpose is also common, with those abusing this opiate drug typically doing so to achieve a high. Using hydrocodone preparations in higher doses or more frequently than prescribed to you is no better though, as you are at greater risk of dependency and hydrocodone withdrawal, not to mention addiction. Crushing tablets to snort or inject is also an issue, as this gives you a hit far quicker, increasing the likelihood of an overdose and rapid addiction.Hydrocodone Addiction
As hydrocodone is an opiate, it is easy for addiction to develop. Opiate use creates pleasurable feelings via your brain’s internal reward system, which promotes continued drug taking. As an article in Science and Practice Perspectives explains, repeated exposure to opiates then leads to lasting changes in your brain that promote your habit further, which include changes to the nerves that release dopamine and changes to the area of your brain that controls judgment and planning. If you suffer from stress, this may also help to reinforce your drug habit, as opiates promote stress relief by releasing dopamine, which has a calming effect. It is easy for an addiction to creep up on you without you even realizing your habit has got out of control, even though it might be very obvious to those around you. Brushing aside their concerns is also common when you are in the grip of an addictive substance, but there are some signals that clearly show you have a problem with hydrocodone misuse, which you should not ignore. These signs include:- Using more tablets each day than prescribed, or if you are using the drug off-prescription, taking increasing doses to when you first started abusing them. This occurs due to the development of tolerance, so you need to take ever-increasing amounts to achieve the same effects.
- Trying to cut back on your use of hydrocodone without success, no matter how hard you try and how much you want to stop.
- Making great sacrifices to get your opiate fix. This may include spending money on drugs that should be used to cover household bills, stealing or taking part in dangerous activities to finance your habit, letting your relationships and interests slide so that you can devote more time to securing and taking pills, and allowing your performance at college or work to slip owing to the effects that taking hydrocodone has on you.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you can’t get your hydrocodone fix or you try to stop using it.
- Developing physical signs associated with high doses of opiates such as sedation, confusion and slow breathing.
