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Drug Addiction
Hydrocodone is supplied in a tablet form for oral administration. The drug is an opioid analgesic and antitussive used for the treatment of chronic pain and dry cough. The dose of hydrocodone is adjusted according to the severity of pain and response of the patient. Because of the high probability for abuse, diversion and hydrocodone addiction, the drug is a controlled substance and available legally only by prescription from a medical professional.
There have been frequently reported negative reactions to using hydrocodone, which include, but are not limited to the following:
Hydrocodone addiction is a chronic, neurological disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors that influence the prevalence of occurrence. Addiction is characterized by one or more of the following traits; inability to control drug use, compulsive using, continuing to use despite danger and cravings.
Drug-seeking behavior is also common for someone who has a hydrocodone addiction. Drug-seeking behavior patterns includes unnecessary emergency room visits, doctor shopping, refusing to submit to an appropriate medical examination, repeated excuses of losing or having prescription stolen, tampering with prescriptions and the reluctance to provide access to medical records.
Hydrocodone addiction and abuse greatly differ from physical dependence and tolerance. Physical dependence on hydrocodone can occur after several weeks of taking the drug, but can develop within days of opioid therapy. Tolerance to hydrocodone means that an increasingly larger dose must be taken in order to experience the same degree of feelings the drug initially caused.
Because of the rise in people having an addiction to hydrocodone, doctors should always make a proper patient assessment, observe proper prescription practices, do periodic reviews of therapy and keep updated patient records. Hydrocodone is a Schedule III controlled substance which means it has a high addiction probability and is subject to black market diversion. The drug is popular among users with addiction disorders and one of the most commonly abused prescription medications.
There is a serious risk of overdose for people who misuse hydrocodone. Such signs and symptoms of an overdose include the following:
Hydrocodone addiction is a serious medical condition and a progressive disease which can be fatal if left untreated. For a person seeking to combat the grips of an addiction to hydrocodone, medical attention, detoxification, therapy, counseling and rehabilitation are the most effective treatment options.
If you or someone you love is facing an addiction to hydrocodone, it is important to know you are not alone. Help is available; please contact us today for more information.
