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Vicodin Rehab

In 2004, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health published a list of prescription medications commonly abused by addicts. Not surprisingly, Vicodin topped the list. In that year, a whopping 48 percent of people who started taking prescription medications for nonmedical uses chose Vicodin out of all the other medications available. While this rate of abuse might seem a bit frightening, it does come with one small silver lining. Since so many people are abusing the drug, addiction experts know more now than they ever did before about how to conquer Vicodin addiction. As a result, it might be slightly easier than ever before for addicts to get the help they need to heal.

For people addicted to Vicodin, addiction rehabilitation programs can provide real and lasting help. In most cases, the rehabilitation program will begin when the addict has completed a detoxification program and can provide a urine test that shows no traces of Vicodin. This means the addict is, technically, free of drugs and able to focus clearly on therapy and recovery.

Therapy Basics and Planning

Vicodin rehabilitation programs attempt to address the addict's:

• Physical health
• Mental health
• History of addiction
• Family concerns
• Social ties

All of these aspects weave and wind around one another, building a strong web of addiction. The therapist's job is to pluck at each thread, slowly pulling the cloth apart and letting the addict build a new life that doesn't include Vicodin abuse. In order to provide the best sort of therapy and truly customize the treatment program, the therapist often must run a series of physical tests, and spend a significant amount of time talking to the addict and the addict's family. When this research is complete, the real work of recovery can begin.

Medical History

Vicodin contains a narcotic, but it also contains a significant amount of acetaminophen. Addicts who abuse Vicodin can do a significant amount of damage to their internal organs as this acetaminophen builds up and destroys tissues. In addition, addicts who crush pills and inject them can develop pockets of infection in their hearts and lungs as the inert ingredients in the pills collect in the sensitive tissues. At the beginning of a rehabilitation program, doctors look for these medical problems and provide therapies to reverse the damage.

Many addicts begin taking Vicodin because they were in pain from a disease or an injury. This pain may persist when the Vicodin is gone. A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that people who entered rehabilitation programs for prescription drugs tended to have higher pain levels than people who entered programs for heroin abuse. These Vicodin addicts may need new methods to deal with their pain, so relapse isn’t as likely.

For many people, drug addiction problems go hand in hand with mental health disorders. These two conditions work upon one another, feeding each other and growing stronger. In a Vicodin addiction program, doctors attempt to determine what mental disorders might be beneath the addiction, and then they provide therapies to help the addict deal with those mental health concerns. For example, some people who struggle with anxiety might enjoy the sedating feel of Vicodin. When the drug is removed, they feel even more anxious than they ever did before, and that anxiety can help feed their cravings for the drug. By providing anti-anxiety medications, doctors can soothe those feelings and make the Vicodin cravings less intense.

Medication Therapies

Vicodin addiction can change the way the brain works, reducing the production of some chemicals and causing the brain to go into severe withdrawal when the drug is removed. Those symptoms can persist for months after the addict stops using the drug. Often, medications can help soothe the troubled brain and keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. One medication, known as buprenorphine, has proven incredibly helpful in treating Vicodin addiction. Buprenorphine fools the brain into believing it has access to Vicodin, when in reality, it does not. The drug doesn't cause sedation or euphoria, either, so it isn't often linked to addiction. In 2003, researchers writing for the New England Journal of Medicine attempted to study how well the drug worked versus a placebo. In the end, the researchers ended the study early because the results were so dramatic. While 20.7 percent of the people taking buprenorphine could provide clean urine samples during the study, only 5.8 percent of people taking the placebo could do the same. In that study, the participants were given a prescription for the drug, and allowed to take it at home on an unsupervised basis. This is not the only way to provide the drug. A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that, of people who had to take the medication in a doctor's office, 59 percent stayed in treatment for over 21 weeks. In other words, buprenorphine even seems to work when patients are required to go to an office to get it. The drug does seem to be of real help to people with Vicodin addiction issues.

Often, buprenorphine is given at a low level at the beginning of rehabilitation programs, and then the dosage is slowly increased based on how the addict is feeling. If the addict reports sweating or restlessness, for example, the dosage might be bumped up. This tweaking continues until the addict feels comfortable and free of symptoms. Then, the dosage continues at that level until the addict and the doctor agree that it's safe to start tapering down the dose again. This is a delicate decision made in close consultation between the addict and the doctor, and there is no right or wrong length of time to stay on the medication. For example, some people stay on buprenorphine therapies for years, while others only take the medication for a few weeks. The therapy is tailored to meet the needs of the addict.

Changing Behavior

Vicodin rehabilitation means more than just taking a series of drugs to change the addict's chemical makeup. Vicodin addiction also has its roots in behavior, and changing behavior often means talking. The addict must share his or her inner feelings about life, relationships, stress, anger and pressure, and talk about why drugs seem to help the addict cope. This sort of unloading can be quite cathartic, especially if the addict learns to employ new skills that he or she can lean on instead of leaning on Vicodin. Some addicts obtain intense therapy sessions in inpatient programs, where they focus exclusively on their addiction for a lengthy period of time. This is the sort of program we provide at The Canyon, and we'd love to tell you more about what we can do to help. There are other therapists that provide help on an outpatient basis, allowing the addict to live at home during treatment. This may be a better option for some people.

In some cases, the addiction pulls nourishment from dysfunction in the family. For example, a destructive marriage full of yelling and spite can cause an addict so much stress that he or she runs to drugs to look for peace. In family therapy programs, the addict, the family and the counselor all sit down together and discuss how the group communicates, and how that communication can help or hinder the addict's healing process.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous are designed to complement the addict's formal addiction counseling sessions, and often, the addict is asked to participate in these sessions for months after formal treatment ends. The programs can help the addict:

• Form a new community, made up of others who don't abuse drugs
• Learn how real people make good choices about drug use
• Understand the addiction
• Talk about the addiction
• Work through the guilt associated with addiction

These programs can be quite helpful for Vicodin addicts, and often, the meetings are held at convenient times in public places. When a craving strikes, it's easy for an addict to find a meeting and step in for a boost of support. This is an excellent way to keep a relapse from taking hold.

In a typical 12-step program, addicts are asked to think of their addictions as chronic diseases that they can only conquer on a day-to-day basis with the help of a higher power. They take responsibility for their past actions, and they vow to live in compliance with a set of rules, including a vow to stop using drugs of any sort. It might sound primitive, or even a little silly, but it can be a powerful tool in the fight against addiction. An article published in the journal Psychiatric Clinics of North America makes the role of 12-step meetings quite clear. The authors write, "12-step programs are spiritually based fellowships supporting not only the achievement and maintenance of abstinence from alcohol and other drug use but also lifelong character development." In other words, these programs can truly help an addict change his or her behavior over the long term, building a life that doesn't include Vicodin addiction. It's a worthwhile part of an addiction treatment program.

For more information on Vicodin addiction and treatment, contact us at The Canyon. We are here to assist you as you take the first step on a lifelong journey to recovery.

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