Substance Abuse
Substance abuse has a range of definitions related to disaproval over use or overuse of mood altering substances. These fall into four main categories: Substance abuse may lead to addiction or substance dependence. Medicaly, dependence requires the development of tolerance leading to withdrawal symptoms.Residential Treatment is a level of care that entails that the client live (resides) within a treatment facility for a specified duration of care; most often 28 days. Residential Treatment Programs and Centers usually include group and individual therapy sessions and span the confinement continuum from open campus to lock down facilities.Binge Drinking: According to a rent study conducted by Kathryn Graham, et al of the University of Western Ontario psychology department "Depression is most strongly related to a pattern of binge drinking,"
Binge Drinking is defined in the study as consuming at least 5 alcoholic beverages at one sitting.
Whether Binge Drinking resulted in the development depression or whether depression contributed to a persons binge drinking was unclear in this study.
Xanax
Addiction
- As one of the class of drugs benzodiazepines Xanax has been shown to be a dangerous drug to withdraw from. The reason that Xanax withdrawal is dangerous is that as a CNS depressant that slows neural activity in the brain when the drug is abruptly stopped brain activity can rebound and accelerate out of control. Prolonged Xanax users should not attempt to withdraw from the drug without medical supervision.
Vicodin or Hydrocodone (also known as Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan, Hydromet, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Novahistex, Hydroco, Tussionex, Vicoprofen, and Xodol) is an opiate that is semi-synthetic. It is derived from two naturally occurring opiates, codeine and thebaine. Vicodin is an analgesic and anti-tussive (used for coughs). Hydrocodone can be found in tablet, capsule and syrup form. In recent years, there has been an increase in illicit drug use of vicodin.
Vicodin, like other narcotics, relieves pain. It does so by binding to receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Vicodin can be taken with or without food, but under no circumstances should be taken with alcohol. At present, the FDA does not know whether use by a pregnant woman is contraindicated. Therefore, use during pregnancy is not recommended.
What makes someone likely to abuse Vicodin?
In the last ten years, narcotic use has increased greatly. It has been found that use of these drugs is more prevalent in mid-western, non-urban areas. The majority of the individuals utilizing these drugs are privately insured. In one study conducted in 2000 at an addiction unit, it was found that 53% of those admitted were dependent on Vicodin.
The majority of the individuals who were dependent on opiates were likely to have some sort of other drug dependence. In fact in the mentioned study, 83% had another type of drug addiction and 45.1% had additional psychiatric disorders. Over 60% had a history of addiction treatment and had been previously admitted for psychiatric illness. It has been found that Vicodin is utilized more often then Oxycodone. The biggest predictor of Vicodin abuse is alcoholism or another type of drug addiction. For patients who are in need of the pain relief provided by opiates that have a history of drug abuse, expert assessment and monitoring is required.
One word - Pain
Vicodin is used for treatment of pain. It is for this reason, that individuals who can afford to seek medical treatment are more likely to become addicted. The most common source of pain reported includes the head and neck. On average, narcotic medications were used for thirty seven months. Though the medical issue with which patients presented was addressed, the potential for drug addiction was not given importance. Utilizing Vicodin with claims of chronic pain, real or imaginary, can and has lead to drug addiction. In addition to the generalized risk of becoming addicted to Vicodin, these individuals are at risk for withdrawal from the drug which in many cases can be deadly. It is for this reason that many patients who experience chronic illness do not want to use prescription medication. There is the fear of dependence, addiction as well as suffering the many different side effects that accompany the use of Vicodin.
What are the side effects of Vicodin?
Common side effects:
* dizziness
* lightheadedness
* nausea
* drowsiness
* euphoria
* vomiting and constipation
Overdosing Risks
Vicodin contains a high amount of acetaminophen or Tylenol. This keeps a lot of potential addicts from using Vicodin in excessive amounts. Acetaminophen is very damaging to the liver if consumed in excessive amounts over long periods of time. Ten to fifteen grams of acetaminophen in a twenty four hour period can result in severe liver toxicity. Fifteen to twenty grams in one day can be fatal.
Since Vicodin is water soluble, it is possible to extract some of the acetaminophen by using hot or cold water which in turn makes the drug more palatable. Extracting the acetaminophen involves crushing the tablets and then allowing them to dissolve in hot water. The mixture is then cooled and ran through a coffee filter. In thirty minutes, most of the acetaminophen has been removed from the solution. This makes the mixture much safer to consume. In order to avoid all of these potentially devastating side effects, many addicts use opiates that contain one substance such as OxyContin.
Only in some cases can someone take up to 120 milligrams of Vicodin per day. In order for this to be possible, one must titrate, or slowly increase, the medication up and is only intended for opiate dependent patients. For these individuals, the patients need to be monitored very carefully. Otherwise there is the possibility of overdose. The symptoms of overdose can not only be devastating but also deadly.
Signs of overdose include: * Respiratory Depression
* Extreme Drowsiness
* Coma
* Cold or Clammy Skin
* Bradycardia (slowing of heart beat), and hypotension.
* Circulatory Collapse, Cardiac Crrest and/or Death.
Vicodin addiction, like any other drug is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Lack of attention to this topic can lead to overdose, which as noted above, can result in death. If one suspects he or she is becoming addicted, or knows someone who may be experiencing said effects, a medical professional should be contacted to avoid a possibly devastating outcome.
This article was last modified on 8/30/2007.
References: Adams NJ, Plane MB, Fleming MF, et al. Opioids and the treatment of chronic pain in a primary care sample. Journal of Pain Symptom Management. 2001; 22:791–796
Chabal C, Erjavec MK, Jacobson L, et al.: Prescription opiate abuse in chronic pain patients: clinical criteria, incidence, and predictors. Clinic J Pain. 1997;150–155.
Dickinson BD, Altman RD, Nielsen NH, et al. Use of opioids to treat chronic, noncancer pain. West J Med. 2000; 172:107–115.
Joranson DE, Ryan MK, Gilson AM. et al.: Trends in medical use and abuse of opioid analgesics. JAMA. 2000; 283:1710–1714.
Longo LP, Parran T Jr, Johnson B, et al. Problem-oriented diagnosis. Available from: American Family Physician 2000 April
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Proceedings of the community epidemiology work group. Vol. 1, Bethesda, MD; 2001.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Proceedings of the community epidemiology work group. Vol. 2, Bethesda, MD; 2001.
Mitka M. Abuse of prescription drugs: is a patient ailing or addicted. JAMA. 2000; 283:1126, 1129.
Substance Abuse Services Commission. OxyContin abuse: Maine’s newest epidemic. Portland, ME; 2002.
Miller, Norman S.& Greenfeld, A. (2004). Patient Characteristics and Risks Factors for Development of Dependence on Hydrocodone and Oxycodone. American Journal of Therapeutics. Volume 11(1), January/February 2004, pp 26-32
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