Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin is an opioid, prescribed to patients mainly for the use of its pain relieving properties. When properly managed and taken exactly as the doctor has prescribed, Vicodin has little risk of causing addiction and can be used as an effective pain reliever.

Opioids like Vicodin work by attaching to specific proteins found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When attached to these proteins, opioids can significantly alter the way a person responds to pain. Vicodin can also change the way the brain perceives pleasure - causing, at first, a feeling of euphoria in the person using the drug.

Chronic and continued use of Vicodin can result in a tolerance, which then leads to higher doses of the medication being taken to achieve that feeling of euphoria. Use over a long period of time can also result in dependence. The body adapts to the drug being ingested daily, and so it begins to feel as though it needs it to function. Because of this dependence, if use of the drug is abruptly stopped the body will experience withdrawal symptoms. The signs of withdrawal can include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, and involuntary leg movement. Those who have become addicted to Vicodin can be treated by a professional drug addiction treatment facility.

Because of its effects, long-term use of Vicodin can significantly change the brain in far-reaching ways. This explains why is not likely to be able to quit on their own. Vicodin alters a normal functioning brain so that pleasure and pain receptors are completely changed. Drug use becomes the most important thing, coming before any thing and anyone else. When using becomes seemingly vital to the person addicted, it can lead to what is called "doctor shopping." This is when a person pretends to be sick to different doctors in order to get the medication prescribed to them.

There are various ways to treat a Vicodin addiction. A person would first have to visit a detoxification center where their body can become clean from the drug before entering into an addiction treatment facility. Detoxification will not fix the problem, but it will help the person suffering from the addiction to become drug-free and will help them by supporting them throughout their withdrawal symptoms. Once in an addiction treatment facility, the person can then concentrate on maintaining that drug-free state through different programs provided by the facility. It is possible to become free of the addiction of Vicodin with the proper care and treatment.