One of the most serious drug addiction problems facing society today is opioid medication. Hydrocodone is one such medication used for pain management that carries a high potential for addiction and abuse. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is often combined with acetaminophen or ibuprofen to enhance pain-relieving effects. This combination of medications is particularly damaging to the liver if taken repeatedly and over an extended period of time. Repeated use of hydrocodone due to issues like chronic pain can quickly lead to tolerance, requiring higher doses for the same effect, and ultimately, dependence. When someone stops taking hydrocodone, they may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that make quitting more difficult.
Aliya Health Group is here to help those with hydrocodone addiction. Our comprehensive opioid recovery programs address the complex nature of opioid addiction and the many factors that can lead to it. Our goal is to help you recover from pain medication addiction and achieve the goal of long-term sobriety.
What Is Hydrocodone Addiction?
Hydrocodone addiction refers to a condition where an individual becomes physically and psychologically dependent on hydrocodone, a powerful opioid pain medication. This drug is typically prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain but is highly addictive due to its ability to produce euphoria and profound relaxation. As a result, it is commonly misused, either by those it is prescribed to or by others who acquire it illicitly.
The addiction develops as the body becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug. Over time, it requires larger doses to achieve the same effect, a phenomenon known as tolerance. As dependence deepens, users may prioritize drug use over other aspects of their lives, potentially leading to significant personal, social, and health consequences. Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, and irritability, can make it difficult for addicted individuals to quit on their own, often necessitating medical intervention and long-term treatment strategies to overcome the addiction.
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Speak With Our Admissions TeamWhat Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hydrocodone Addiction?
Hydrocodone addiction manifests through a variety of signs and symptoms, which can be broadly categorized into physical, behavioral, and psychological aspects.
Here’s how these symptoms typically present:
Physical:
- Needing more of the drug to achieve the same effects
- Sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Damp, clammy skin
- Failing to maintain personal hygiene and grooming
- Experiencing insomnia or sleeping at unusual times
- Frequent flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose or fever
Behavioral:
- Doctor shopping — visiting multiple doctors to obtain more prescriptions
- Withdrawing from social activities and relationships
- Neglecting responsibilities at work, school, or home
- Being secretive or deceptive about whereabouts and activities
- Engaging in illegal acts like forging prescriptions, stealing, or buying hydrocodone illicitly
Psychological:
- Cravings for hydrocodone
- Experiencing rapid and extreme changes in mood
- Feeling excessively worried, anxious, or distrustful without obvious reasons
- Feeling persistent sadness, loss of interest in enjoyable activities
- Making poor decisions that are uncharacteristic of the individual's normal behavior
These signs and symptoms can vary in intensity and may not all be present in every individual. However, several of these symptoms often indicate a serious issue that might require professional intervention.
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Why Is Hydrocodone Dangerous?
Hydrocodone is a highly addictive opioid and can easily lead to death in high enough doses. Symptoms of hydrocodone overdose can include severe respiratory depression, where breathing slows or stops, which can be fatal. Overdose can also lead to stupor, coma, and death due to hypoxia, resulting from insufficient oxygen reaching the brain.
Moreover, the withdrawal symptoms, while typically not fatal, are extremely harsh, making it difficult to quit. Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and agitation. These symptoms can make it difficult for individuals to stop using the drug without medical help.
Finally, hydrocodone can impair cognitive and physical abilities, affecting a person’s ability to perform tasks that require attention, judgment, and motor coordination. This can increase the risk of accidents, especially in driving or operating heavy machinery.
Hydrocodone Addiction Facts & Statistics
According to the latest data from the National Institutes of Health, opioid-related deaths rose sharply in 2021 – 80,411, from 68,630 the year before.
Over ten million people abused opioids last year, per data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to data from the American Society of Addiction Medicine, 80% of heroin users started out by abusing prescription opioids.
Hydrocodone Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
Hydrocodone addiction and mental health disorders are often interconnected, with each potentially exacerbating the other. This relationship can complicate treatment and recovery, and understanding the interplay between the two is crucial for effective management.
Opioids like hydrocodone affect the brain’s reward system, which is closely linked with mood regulation. Chronic use can alter brain chemistry and pathways, potentially leading to or worsening mental health disorders.
Many individuals with hydrocodone addiction also suffer from co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition of having both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder is known as a dual diagnosis.
Effective treatment for individuals with dual diagnosis typically involves an integrated approach that addresses both the substance use disorder and the mental health disorder simultaneously. This can include a combination of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), psychotherapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy), and support groups.
When Do You Need Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment?
Recognizing when to seek treatment for hydrocodone addiction is crucial for preventing further physical, emotional, and social complications. Here are some key indicators that it might be time to consider professional help:
- Increased Tolerance
If you notice that you need to take more hydrocodone to achieve the same effects as before, it’s a sign of developing tolerance, a hallmark of addiction.
- Withdrawal Symptoms
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you decrease or stop taking hydrocodone indicates physical dependence. Symptoms include sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle aches.
- Unsuccessful Attempts to Quit
If you’ve tried to stop using hydrocodone on your own but haven’t been successful, or if you’ve relapsed after trying to quit, it’s a sign that professional treatment may be necessary.
- Obsession with Obtaining and Using Hydrocodone
Spending a significant amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of hydrocodone is a strong indicator that addiction has taken hold.
- Neglecting Responsibilities
If your use of hydrocodone is affecting your ability to meet obligations at work, school, or home, or if it’s leading you to neglect social or family responsibilities, consider seeking help.
- Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences
Continuing to use hydrocodone despite facing legal issues, financial problems, relationship conflicts, or deteriorating health strongly suggests the need for addiction treatment.
- Social and Recreational Sacrifices
If you start isolating yourself from family and friends or stop participating in activities you once enjoyed because of your drug use, it may be time to evaluate your relationship with hydrocodone.
- Impact on Physical and Mental Health
Noticeable declines in physical or mental health directly related to hydrocodone use—such as memory problems, mood swings, or worsening mental health conditions—are clear signs that intervention is needed.
How Long Is Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment?
The length of hydrocodone addiction treatment can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the severity of the addiction, any co-occurring mental health disorders, the individual’s health status, and their support network.
Overall, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long treatment should last. Effective treatment often requires a commitment to a long-term process involving multiple stages of care. The goal is to not only stop drug use but also to return the individual to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and community. Health professionals emphasize that longer durations of treatment generally correlate with better outcomes.
What Is Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment Like?
Treating addiction to opioids like hydrocodone is a unique process for everyone. Upon admission, the clinical team at Aliya Health Group learns about you, your situation, and any other aspects of your health and medical history. The goal is to create an individualized treatment plan that addresses the physical, mental, and behavioral aspects of addiction. Addiction treatment often starts with medical detox, followed by residential and outpatient programming. These programs utilize evidence-based and holistic treatment programs designed to help you heal and reach your goal of sobriety.
Aliya Health Group offers the following levels of care for hydrocodone addiction treatment:
Hydrocodone Detox
Medical detox is often the first step in recovering from hydrocodone addiction. Detox is the process of naturally removing substances from the body. When you abstain from using, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. The team at Aliya is here to help make that process easier. Our skilled and experienced clinical team can help make detox safe and comfortable so you can move on to the next steps in the recovery process. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help with hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms during detox.
Inpatient Hydrocodone Rehab
After detox, the next step in recovery from hydrocodone addiction is residential treatment. Like detox, it involves someone living full-time at their recovery center for anywhere from a month to 90 days. Aliya Health Group facilities are safe and comfortable, allowing clients to focus their energy on achieving their recovery goals. Using evidence-based and holistic therapies, our clinical team teaches valuable coping skills and tools that clients can use to maintain their sobriety following recovery. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an option during inpatient care to help manage protracted withdrawal symptoms that persist for weeks or months after detox.
Therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), individual and group counseling, and family therapy help clients understand their addiction and learn better ways to handle stress and emotions. Holistic treatments, such as yoga and mindfulness meditation, also support recovery. The goal is to equip clients with the tools they need to rebuild their lives and stay sober.
Outpatient Hydrocodone Rehab
Following inpatient rehab for hydrocodone addiction, clients can then step down into outpatient care. Outpatient programs offer more flexibility in recovery as clients have the option to live at home or in sober living residences while undergoing treatment. There are multiple levels of outpatient care, each offering more flexibility. The most intensive level of care is a partial hospitalization program, where clients attend treatment daily for up to 6. That is followed by an intensive outpatient program (IOP), where clients attend therapy a few times a week with the goal of a successful transition from rehab back to everyday life.
Traditional outpatient care can also help ease the transition. Clients in Aliya’s outpatient program attend therapy once or twice weekly to help them apply the skills learned in recovery to situations in everyday life. Aftercare is the final step in attending rehab, and it involves working closely with case managers to aid in long-term sobriety. Recovery support group meetings, follow-up sessions with case managers and clinical staff, and access to the Aliya alumni network are all valuable aspects of aftercare.
Are you ready to leave drugs & alcohol in your past? Reach out today through live chat, email, or phone.
Addiction Treatment Programs at Aliya Health Group
Aliya Health Group is highly experienced in treating opioid addiction through our many treatment programs. Our drug and alcohol rehab centers offer a continuum of care to support you, with treatment options including inpatient and outpatient programs, along with cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and individual therapy as necessary.
Nobody should spend their life struggling with the effects of hydrocodone when there are safe and reliable addiction recovery programs ready to help. There are many reasons why someone would start taking hydrocodone, but there’s one really important reason to quit: your future success in life. Pain medications are powerful drugs that affect the brain at a chemical level. That makes it difficult to stop. Continued opioid abuse carries the potential to ruin someone’s life. Getting help from a certified opioid addiction treatment provider like Aliya Health Group is the first step toward a brighter future.
Call us today at (888) 973-2078 to get started.
- Prescription Opioids DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
- How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids – Mayo Clinic
- Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Hydrocodone – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Opioid Facts and Statistics | HHS.gov
- Drug Overdose Death Rates | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
- opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf (asam.org)
