5 Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction

As a semi-synthetic opioid, hydrocodone actually consists of two medications, codeine and thebaine, a combination often prescribed to manage pain as well as provide cough relief. It may be administered in syrup, tablet or capsule form and is often combined with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and sold as Hydromet, Vicodin, Lorcet, Norco, Lortab, Symtan, Anexsia, Dicodid and Hycodan, among others.

While there are a very few who can take hydrocodone for years and not become addicted, most people are not so fortunate. In fact, when you becomes addicted to hydrocodone, the ability to stop on a whim almost never works; hydrocodone addiction is a medical disease and thereby requires medical treatment.

Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction Articles

Just like with every addiction, those who are physically addicted to hydrocodone are not the only ones to suffer; the user's family and friends are also affected. At Meditox, we can help you determine if hydrocodone addiction is hurting you or someone you love and help you take steps to treat the problem medically.

Hydrocodone Addiction: The Causes

The mystery of why some people become addicted to opioid-based pain relievers like hydrocodone and others don't is one that has baffled scientist and medical professionals for centuries. There are a multitude of studies that focus on this issue and their findings are basically that addiction is caused by the triggering of the pleasure and reward system in the brain. With regular hydrocodone use, your mind and body become reliant upon the euphoria the drug produces. You come to crave that feeling and, at the same time, your brain stops producing the chemicals that naturally make you happy, which means that when you are not on the drug you are even more miserable, physically and emotionally.

Studies also suggest that opiate addiction may be hereditary and although that does not necessarily mean that a child of an opiate addict will become an addict, it does mean that if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse of any kind in your family, you are more likely to develop addiction after minimal use of a mind altering substance.

5 Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction

Recognizing and addressing hydrocodone addiction can be very difficult for the person immersed in addiction. While there is no distinct time frame that applies to all who become addicted to the drug, there are signals that may help you determine if you or someone you love is addicted to hydrocodone. These include:

Inability to meet obligations that have been set forth in the home, school or workplace
Persistent in drug use even with the knowledge that the hydrocodone is harming more than helping in both the short- and long-term
Participating in unsafe behavior without concern for the consequences or for the lack of safety of themselves and others
The constant desire to continue to use in order to feel that euphoric feeling
Multiple failed attempts to abstain from hydrocodone use

Are You A Victim of Hydrocodone Addiction?

Do any of the above signs sound familiar? Do you recognize those feelings or actions in yourself or someone you love? The first step to getting help is accepting that hydrocodone addiction exists in your life but also that it is a serious problem that won't go away on its own. Treatment is necessary and available in many forms, both for the hydrocodone addict and for his or her friends and family.

Treat Hydrocodone Addiction at Meditox

Hydrocodone addiction treatment is available now at Meditox. Each of our medical professionals are specialists in opiate addiction treatment and will provide you with a thorough and convenient outpatient hydrocodone detox. If you'd like more information, call Meditox today.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

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Mother, Real Estate Agent, 49
August 11, 2006

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