Vicodin Addiction Treatment Center

Vicodin is a brand name for the opioid medication hydrocodone, a painkiller generally prescribed as a remedy for the symptoms of moderate to moderately severe pain.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Vicodin prescriptions were written in high volume by physicians who considered the drug relatively benign. But Vicodin is not as harmless as first believed: like other opioid pain medications it is can be highly addictive when abused, either by people with prescriptions, those self-medicating for pain, or those who use Vicodin recreationally for its euphoric effects.

To more accurately reflect reality, in 2014 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency reclassified hydrocodone as a Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and dependency and should only be prescribed with caution.

Vicodin Addiction Facts and Statistics

Hydrocodone is the most prescribed pharmaceutical medication in the United States. In 2013, 136 million prescriptions for hydrocodone-based painkillers were written by American physicians, with Vicodin comprising the lion’s share of these orders.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention over 70% of the nearly 71,000 drug overdose deaths in 2019 involved an opioid.

Despite attempts to reign in runaway opioid abuse, the United States still consumes about 80 percent of the opioids prescribed on a global basis, including an astonishing 99 percent of all hydrocodone products. This explains why U.S. drug overdose death rates have skyrocketed, to more than 72,000 fatalities annually as of 2017. Prescription opioids are responsible for nearly 70 percent of those deaths, with several thousand dying from the effects of a Vicodin overdose.

In 2017, 11.1 million Americans age 12 and over misused opioid painkillers, a behavior that can easily lead to addiction. An estimated 2.1 million Americans had an actual opioid use disorder, and it is this group that is most at risk for serious personal and health complications if they don’t receive treatment for their drug dependency.

Addiction recovery at our luxury Vicodin rehab will help you regain control of your fate and future. At Alta Mira, healing, recovery, and addressing all facets of your Vicodin addiction, along with any underlying co-occurring disorders, will be our top priority.

During your stay with us, your evidence-based treatment will be supported by:

• Medically-supervised detox
• Individual counseling and therapy
• Group/Peer-based therapy
• Family therapy
• Educational programs
• Holistic healing practices (yoga, biofeedback, meditation, massage therapy, etc.)
• Experiential activities
• Life skills and coping skills courses and workshops
• Fitness and nutrition programs
• Relapse prevention training and instruction

Our world-class Vicodin addiction treatment specialists offer the very best care at every stage of your recovery, and one of their primary objectives will be to help you identify triggers and other circumstances that might make you vulnerable to relapse.

Integrated treatment at Alta Mira means that all of your medical conditions are given priority, simultaneously. We recognize—and soon you will, too—that reclaiming control of your life at Vicodin rehab has tremendous liberating potential.

Some of the distinctive signs and symptoms of Vicodin abuse and addiction include:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Slowed breathing patterns
• Low heart rate
• Constipation
• Muscle aches and cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulties urinating
• Impairments in memory and reasoning
• Depression
• Lethargy when under the influence of the drug
• Anxiety and agitation when not under the influence of the drug

Vicodin addiction generally does not develop when the medication is used exclusively as prescribed. But when self-medicating behavior occurs, and people begin using it without a prescription or in larger quantities than recommended, the risk of dependency is dramatically elevated. People who use it recreationally for its euphoric and relaxing effects are always in danger of developing an addiction, especially if they mix Vicodin with alcohol or other drugs that can amplify its impact.

Liver problems are one possible complication of Vicodin abuse, caused primarily by the acetaminophen that is added to the hydrocodone in this medication. Anyone who shows signs of jaundice or other symptoms suggesting liver malfunctioning should seek medical attention immediately, and substance abuse treatment shortly thereafter.

Severe, chronic pain can leave those who have it desperate to find a remedy, and too often people who experience initial relief from painkillers will increase dosages or prolong use on their own, without a doctor’s guidance. In other situations, people without a prescription may attempt to self-medicate for pain, if they have access to supplies of narcotic painkillers through friends or family members.

These behaviors, along with the recreational use of a drug clearly not intended for that purpose, are the most immediate causes of Vicodin and opioid addiction. But there are other risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of developing a Vicodin addiction.

They include:

• Family history. Among those who develop opioid dependency, genetic influences account for 60-70 percent of their vulnerability, according to one analysis of multiple medical studies.
• Past history of substance use issues. Anyone with a history of addiction must proceed carefully when taking prescription drugs, especially those (like Vicodin) that can cause mind-altering effects.
• Mental health disorders. Overall, about half of all people who develop a mental health disorder will also struggle with chemical dependency, which largely reflects a desire to self-medicate when troublesome symptoms make daily functioning difficult.
• Exposure to childhood abuse. Up to two-thirds of people in treatment for substance use disorders report experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or severe neglect, during childhood.

Getting help for an addiction to Vicodin is vital. But making that first step toward this important and potentially life-transforming move can be challenging for anyone who has tried to manage addiction on their own. Residential treatment for Vicodin addiction is most effective because it allows an individual to focus on treatment for an extended period of time while learning the necessary skills for returning home and avoiding a relapse. Vicodin addiction treatment is tailored to each individual and typically includes:

• Detox
• One-on-one behavioral therapy
• Group therapy and peer support
• Educational programs
• Family therapy
• Experiential and holistic therapies
• Intensive workshops
• Fitness/recreation
• Relaxation strategies and stress management
• Learning how to avoid relapses

Relapse prevention is an important part of Vicodin treatment and includes learning what triggers prescription drug use, how to avoid triggers, lifestyle changes, and learning and using healthy coping strategies.

We understand that in order for Vicodin addiction rehab to be successful, we must listen closely and truly understand your needs, aspirations, personal history, and treatment goals. All members of our care team align closely with you so that you feel safe, respected, and ready to do your work. With this approach, Alta Mira co-creates a profound healing experience with you so you can achieve your recovery goals and reclaim your life.

How to Help a Loved One Get Treatment for Abusing Vicodin

Addiction to Vicodin is not a choice nor a sign of weakness. It is a condition of the brain that can respond to targeted treatment. When your loved one comes to Alta Mira, they will finally have a chance to be free from the debilitating effects of Vicodin addiction.

While you can have an influence on your loved one’s decision to seek treatment, an individual struggling with Vicodin addiction must take ultimate responsibility for their own recovery. Your support and encouragement may be what will finally convince them to seek help for their struggles with Vicodin.

• The Challenge. Helping a loved one who is struggling with Vicodin can be a long and heartbreaking journey. It can be hard to help someone, particularly if they don’t want help or if they live far away. Many families wait years beyond the time that they first thought about intervening.
• Get Help for Yourself. If you have a loved one who is suffering from Vicodin addiction, one of the first things you can do is take care of yourself by attending peer support meetings like Nar-Anon.
• Consider an Interventionist. The longer you wait for someone to “hit bottom,” the more their disease advances. You can actually increase the chance of a successful outcome by intervening with your loved one before their disease progresses to a more dangerous level. However, organizing your family to set limits and boundaries to get a loved one into rehab can be challenging.

Hiring a professional interventionist can help the family get organized as a team, prepare to speak to the addict in a coordinated way, to give your loved one the best possible chance of successfully arriving in treatment. Interventionists can also be helpful during and after the treatment experience, providing support and coaching to the family to ensure that the patient completes treatment. If you are considering an intervention, our admissions team can also help you with this process.

We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated Vicodin rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class Vicodin addiction specialists.

Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.

Don’t let Vicodin control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.