Vicodin addiction is a serious issue in US society. Although cigarette smoking, heroin shooting, and hallucinogen experimentation is on the decline, opiate use is on the rise. Vicodin is an opiate drug. It comes in the form of white tablets containing a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone. (www.drugs.com). Vicodin is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It has the potential for addiction due to its "feel good" properties.
When medically administered, Vicodin can increase the quality of life for many people suffering from intense pain, particularly post-surgical procedures. However, it is not always used as prescribed, or obtained via a legitimate prescription. Vicodin can be abused by being crushed and snorted, or shot directly into the bloodstream via intravenous needles. In 2009, the National Institute on Drug Abuse noted that the non-medical use of Vicodin and OxyContin increased throughout the last 5 years among 10th-graders, though remained unchanged among 8th- and 12th-graders. NIDA's research also indicated that "nearly 1 in 10 high school seniors reported non-medical use of Vicodin; 1 in 20 reported abuse of OxyContin. When asked how prescription narcotics were obtained for non-medical use, about 52 percent of 12th-graders said they were given the drugs or bought them from a friend or relative. Additionally, 30 percent reported receiving a prescription for them, and a negligible number of 12th-graders reported purchasing the narcotics over the Internet.
Thankfully, there are treatment options that exist, most notably in the form of enrollment in a drug treatment facility. Inpatient drug treatment programs address the physical, spiritual and emotional toll addiction takes on a person. Staff members are educated on Vicodin addiction. They will start with a medical detoxification from Vicodin, which is important considering the negative side effects Vicodin withdrawal includes such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, goose bumps, and/or agitation. Trained clinicians understand how the addictive brain works and how strong the psychological component of addiction is. A high degree of value is tied into their experience dealing with addictive personalities over a long period of time. Thus, someone who enters the treatment facility with an addiction to prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin, will be welcomed with open arms.
Vicodin addicts exchange stories while attending inpatient treatment with other drug addicts who offer feedback and advice. The ability to share experience, strength and hope, as well as get into the habit of engaging in recovery-related activities such as regular Narcotics Anonymous meetings, regular substance abuse counseling, and family therapy, is priceless and made possible through a renowned treatment program. With increased first-hand knowledge of the warning signs of addiction, side effects, and long-term effects of Vicodin addiction, many addicts will feel empowered in their recovery process.
The correlation between involved parenting and reduced drug and alcohol abuse in teens has been well researched. In the past five years, further studies revealed that parents influence the way in which their teen thinks about drugs and alcohol. Very simply stated, the parents' viewpoint, discussion, and perspective shape their teen's perspective of prescription pills and drug abuse. Out of a 5-year study of 714 adolescents and their parents emerged shocking results. Essentially, "parents affect their children's behaviors by influencing two key thought processes: their images of the typical 'smoker' or 'drinker' which the adolescent associates with the behavior, and their willingness to smoke, drink, or use other drugs if they find themselves in circumstances in which such substances are available," says a recent article in Medicine Net online.
Logistical steps parents can take to preclude Vicodin abuse in their teen include but are not limited to:
- Ensuring that prescription pills are locked away, not readily available in an medicine cabinet
- If your teen undergoes surgery or is put on pain medicine, administering prescribed drugs to your teen yourself as a safety precaution
- Hire a trusted house sitter when away for the weekend
Parents have the ability to mold the way their teens view drugs and alcohol. They can help shape their teen's perspective of opiates by portraying them as unappealing, uncouth, and anything but fashionable.
