Sorry about the length of this answer but I'm trying to cover most points for you!
Vicodin addiction is an extremely powerful disease that affects the lives of many Americans each year; however, with proper treatment vicodin addiction can be overcome. In recent years prescription drug abuse and addiction has been on the rise but denial around the issue of addiction also continues to persist. Vicodin addiction is the obsessive-compulsive misuse of a mood-altering drug. In this sense, misuse means using the drug without the authorization of a medical profession, or using the drug when it is no longer needed as prescribed. Vicodin addiction can have devastating effects on a person's mind and body.
Prescription drug addiction, and vicodin addiction in particular, is very problematic since originally the drugs were prescribed by a doctor. In many cases people who have become addicted to vicodin are in denial that they have a problem and they rationalize their use by saying things like, "I'm taking it for the pain", or "the doctor said I could take a few extra". Vicodin produces a euphoric feeling, relaxing both the physical body and the mind, as well as relieving pain. Vicodin addiction is extremely common among prescription drug users, most likely because it is readily prescribed for many different types of pain problems.
Some prescription drug users do not intend to get hooked on the medicine, but when their prescription runs out they begin to obsess about how they are going to obtain more and more of the drug. Vicodin addicts find that they cannot longer function normally without the drug and that even though the pain is gone, vicodin produces an effect in them that they feel they cannot live without. People suffering from vicodin addiction start looking to outside sources for more prescriptions and are willing to go to great lengths to get more drugs.
Vicodin addiction is often seen a less serious condition than addiction to illicit street drugs or alcohol. This is because vicodin is prescribed by a physician and also because vicodin is not seen as causing the same negative problems as other drugs. This misconception often leads vicodin addicts and their loved ones to believe that they do not need to seek treatment.
All mind altering substances affect the way that the brain functions, and in the case of vicodin, the brain stops producing chemicals like endorphins. Because the brain has stopped producing these essential chemicals, the body feels that it is unable to function without the use of the drug. A person who suffers from vicodin addiction has become dependent upon the drug and will go into withdrawal and cravings if he/she cannot acquire anymore.
Vicodin addiction affects the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of a person's life. In addition, vicodin addiction can tear apart families, ruin relationships and leave lives in shambles without proper vicodin rehab. Many people who are addicted to vicodin want to stop but find that they are unable to live without the drug and must enter a rehabilitation center in order to stop. By understanding the devious nature of vicodin addiction, helping yourself or someone you love is a much easier task.
Long-term abuse of hydrocodone causes a myriad of physical and psychological problems: chronic fatigue, dizziness and disorientation, abdominal pain and bleeding ulcers, constipation, profuse perspiration, and decreased libido. Prolonged use can also cause liver damage or necessitate a transplant. So why do people abuse Vicodin? As a highly-addictive opioid, hydrocodone not only takes away chronic pain, but it also induces feeling of euphoria. People simply want to escape from personal problems into a world of make-believe where everything is beautiful; and Vicodin provides a one-way ticket. Very few people intentionally become drug addicts; but somewhere along life's highway, they decided to take the wrong turn just to feel good; not knowing that the price of a good feeling can cause one to lose their life. After coming down from a high, addicts may realize that the price for drug abuse is too high; but overwhelming guilt drives them to continue using to ease the conscience and quiet the demons within. As with other opioids, such as heroin, cocaine, methadone, and morphine, chronic use causes psychological dependence; and Vicodin addiction treatment is required to break the bondage of self-destructive behavior.
Contrary to popular belief, addicts are not all low-life losers; but anyone can become psychologically dependent on prescription or street drugs. From college students, housewives, and salesmen to teachers, athletes and even preachers, addiction to prescription medicines has become a national health concern that can touch the lives of anyone from any socioeconomic background. Therapists that work with individuals enrolled in Vicodin addiction treatment programs realize that given the right circumstances, those who do not have a strong faith system or those who struggle to face overwhelming obstacles often rely on something other than God to alleviate the emotional pain that can accompany every day life. Some behavioral centers offer spiritual counseling as part of intervention. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
People who are addicted to hydrocodone may present at a hospital emergency room with symptoms of bleeding stomach ulcers, dizziness and headaches, or liver failure. Chronic or emergency health conditions must be addressed before clinicians can begin Vicodin addiction treatment. Surgery may be required to staunch bleeding ulcers and alleviate abdominal pain, while intravenous fluids may be administered to flush excessive amounts of the drug from the system. During detoxification, patients may be placed on monitors to assess damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, and other vital organs. Like most chemical dependency programs, Vicodin addiction treatment may take from five to seven days to wean patients physically from the drug and its side effects. However, weaning individuals psychologically may take in-patient treatment along with outpatient care.
Initially, patients may resist attempts to become free of the addiction, in spite of a realization that higher dosages of hydrocodone have the potential to be lethal and cause permanent damage to vital organs. Behavioral therapists that are specialists in Vicodin addiction treatment and other chemical dependencies are equipped to deal with resistance. Sedatives may have to be administered to calm agitated patients, along with getting them involved in supervised activities to reprogram the mind from centering on drug use. Private and group psychotherapy sessions enable patients to openly and candidly discuss issues and events that led up to drug abuse. Therapists try to generate productive dialogue to assess the mental state of each patient and begin a prescribed plan to change attitudes, negative thought processes, and misguided perceptions. Vicodin addiction treatment may require intervention from other healthcare providers, along with supportive family members. Counselors may interview spouses or adult children in order to get background information on the environment or issues which may have triggered chemical dependency. Medical records will verify whether abuse began as a result of post-operative depression, divorce, anxiety, or worry about financial woes.
During the patient's hospital stay, nutritionists will work to introduce foods and supplements which help restore the body's hormonal balance without dependency on drugs. The body is an amazing creation that has the capacity to heal itself once opioids and other addictive narcotics have been removed. A structured diet plan helps patients recover from the inside out from prescription drug abuse. In a clinical setting, people are more apt to respond favorably to Vicodin addiction treatment. A controlled environment without access to prescriptions or suppliers enables patients to stabilize both physically and psychologically. Counselors, nutritionists, and social workers will help patients prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally to cope with life's situations outside of the hospital; and some individuals may be required to follow up with a 12-step recovery program in their local area. Faith-based programs offer individuals the opportunity to discover and apply Biblical principles to establish and strengthen an inner reserve and resolve to avoid chemical dependency.
There is no shortage of successful, reputable Vicodin addiction treatment clinics out there. But physicians from doctors published in the Journal of the American Medical Association to researchers in top think tanks have decried certain forms of Vicodin and opioid recovery as either inappropriate or less than ideal.
Most obviously, self detox from extreme Vicodin addiction is not recommended. After all, even if you're in stout health and you have friends or family by your side to see you through the harrowing first few days of withdrawal, you never know what bugbears in your personal medical history may suddenly present themselves and make treatment more messy. Moreover, if there is a problem, and you have to be rushed to the hospital, your treating physicians may lose valuable time trying to solicit information about your case from helpful but ultimately unknowledgeable supporters.
Another vicodin treatment approach probably to avoid is detox under anesthesia. This high profile methodology boasts some success, but it is typically very costly, and few if any major insurance carriers will support it.
Patients must spend significant time in the intensive care unit and be subjected to a series of additional drugs to detox the body and keep systems functioning under the anesthesia. Long-term studies about how these chemical cocktails may or may not radically alter neural chemical configurations have yet to conclude, but given the slate of attractive, relatively painless safe options, you may want to skip so-called rapid detox.
Comments
Very good points.
by Gina on December 26th, 2007