Vicodin Rehab

Jump to:

1. Finding a Program
2. Developing a Plan
3. Are Medications a Must?
4. Working Through Behavior

In commercials, a person who needs to make a decision is often shown with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. The angel reminds the person of the consequences of the action, and tries to appeal to the person’s higher nature and sense of responsibility. The devil on the person’s other shoulder appeals to the person’s sense of fun and adventure. It may sound cliché, but the angel and the devil often walk through the door with a person entering a Vicodin rehab program. The goal of a structured program is to strengthen the voice of that angel, making the whispered message louder and clearer, while the voice of the devil is extinguished for good.

Vicodin rehabilitation programs may be long, and they definitely take a significant amount of hard work to complete, but the results are well worth the effort. Here, the addict learns how to avoid drug addiction issues in the future and build a life that is both fulfilling and well rounded.

Finding a Program

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the best rehabilitation programs for addiction are customized to meet the needs of that addict at that time. Cookie-cutter solutions that force an addict to conform to a rigid program might not be as helpful as programs that begin with an understanding of the addict and that addict’s needs. This form of customization can be particularly helpful when it comes to Vicodin addiction.

For example, according to Parents: The Anti-Drug, Vicodin and other painkillers are the drugs most commonly abused by teens. They may begin taking the drug to assist with pain control and then develop addiction issues, or they may steal the drug from the family medicine cabinet and then develop addictions from this illicit use. Teens with Vicodin addictions are likely to benefit from programs that are specifically structured around the things that teens like to do. Programs that offer physical activities or animals, for example, might keep a teen interested, while programs in cold facilities full of adults might not.

In addition, many people who have mental illnesses tend to develop addictions to painkillers like Vicodin. According to a study published in the Clinical Journal of Pain, some people develop symptoms of mental illnesses as a result of their addictions. Other people seem to use their addictions to help them deal with their mental illnesses. People with these dual diagnoses have a more difficult time in recovery, and they need programs that are tailored to help them deal with both the mental illness and the substance abuse issue. Some programs provide this help, while others do not. At Alta Mira, we specialize in providing help to people with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. If you or someone you love is struggling with this dual-diagnosis issue, we urge you to call us to find out more about our programs and how we can help.

There are many, many substance abuse programs available, and finding just the right program can be a bit tricky, but asking these sorts of questions might help narrow the field:

• Do you specialize in Vicodin addiction?
• How many addicts have you treated?
• How is your program customized?
• Do you offer both inpatient and outpatient programs?
• Do you accept insurance payments?

The addict, and the addict’s doctor, also have a say in this decision. The addict needs to be involved and invested in recovery, so the addict should be allowed to participate in the selection process. And the addict’s doctor may also have opinions about the best way to tackle that addict’s addiction.

Developing a Plan

The website Drugs.com notes that Vicodin contains two active ingredients: a narcotic (hydrocodone) and a pain reliever (acetaminophen), wrapped up in a time-release capsule. The pills are designed to dissolve slowly, in order to deliver a significant amount of pain relief over a long period of time. People who abuse Vicodin, however, tend to crush the capsules in order to feel all of the benefits of the drug at once, and they may take very high doses of the drugs each day. The acetaminophen can do a significant amount of damage to the liver and other organs as the disease progresses.

At the beginning of Vicodin rehabilitation programs, doctors should look closely at the overall health of the addict, just to ensure that there aren’t medical issues caused by the addiction that should be addressed. Sometimes, nutritional support can be of immense help in keeping an addict in recovery healthy. Other addicts may need medications to help reverse damage.

In addition, some rehabilitation programs require addicts to submit to a urine screening before they enroll. There are some addicts who abuse other substances in addition to Vicodin, even if they won’t admit it, and doctors will need to find out what those people are taking so they can develop an effective treatment program. Dealing with multiple substances in an addiction program is slightly more complicated than dealing with only Vicodin, so doctors will want to know exactly what they’re dealing with before they begin treatment. This testing might be repeated periodically as treatment progresses, so doctors can ensure that the addict hasn’t reverted to drug use during the course of treatment.

Are Medications a Must?

Vicodin is an opioid, meaning that it reacts with the same receptors used by hard drugs like opium. Almost everyone knows that opium addicts need some sort of medication in order to recover from their addictions. It’s possible, therefore, that some people addicted to Vicodin also need medications in order to leave their addictions behind.

According to the book Lippincott’s Primary Care Psychiatry, there are a wide variety of drugs that can be used to treat addictions to opioids like Vicodin, including:

• Methadone
• Suboxone
• Naltrexone
• LAAM

Some of these medications must be given in a doctor’s office, under direct supervision. Other medications can be provided in pill form, so the addict can take them at home. Choosing just the right type of medication, and finding just the right dose of that medication, is a bit of an art form, according to an article published in the Western Journal of Medicine. It might take several days or even weeks for doctors to hit on the right formula. The patient has a strong role to play in this process. The addict is expected to explain all of his or her symptoms, including cravings, and be honest if he or she doesn’t think the medication is working. Through this honest and open communication, the team can come up with a plan that works.

Medications aren’t necessary for all people who are addicted to Vicodin, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In fact, the organization says, some people benefit through the use of counseling alone. This is, again, an area that must be customized to meet the needs of that patient at that time.

Working Through Behavior

People addicted to Vicodin often need to restructure their lives and the way that they think in order to overcome their addictions. Therapy plays a crucial role in helping the addict make those changes. In most cases, the addict will meet with the counselor in private sessions. Some addicts benefit, however, from meetings that take place in groups. This allows shy addicts to listen to other people talk, and the addict can learn from those experiences without feeling exposed. Again, this is an area where customization can be beneficial.

During therapy, the addict learns more about the causes of addiction and how the disease tends to progress. Then, the addict learns more about his or her own experience with addiction. Sometimes, the addict has taken Vicodin to numb memories of an incident that’s too difficult to deal with. Other times, the addict takes Vicodin to help slow a spinning mind and make relaxation easier to accomplish. Once the addict understands why the behavior takes place, the addict can take steps to change that behavior. It’s a powerful lesson to learn.

This work extends past the therapist’s office, however, as the addict has an entire life to lead that may have nothing to do with addiction or recovery. Sometimes, these other aspects of an addict’s life, including relationships with friends and family, having a job, or having a safe place to live, can also be powerful motivators that help an addict stay clean. For example, according to a study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, the people studied who were able to stay sober for five years gave credit to strong relationships, their religion, their careers and their own personal motivation. Note that they didn’t mention therapy or drugs. They mentioned the intangible things that make life worthwhile.

Some addiction programs recognize that addiction has its roots in these other issues, and these programs strive to help an addict learn job skills, find housing, make friends and access health care. For people deep in Vicodin addiction, these multi-faceted programs could provide a significant amount of help.

If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to Vicodin, contact us today. We can offer guidance and support as you or your loved one begin a lifelong journey to sobriety.