Currently, the United States is suffering a dire opioid crisis. In fact, The New York Times reported a record high 72,000 opioid deaths in 2017. Painkillers called opioids are destroying many lives at this moment. However, some people still aren’t sure which drugs are considered opioids. For instance, maybe you’re wondering, is hydrocodone an opioid?
Hydrocodone is an opioid. Therefore, it shares powerful ingredients with morphine, codeine, and even heroin. Specifically, hydrocodone blocks paths to the brain’s pain receptors and produces pleasure instead. Doctors often prescribe the oral narcotic for acute injuries and surgeries. Patients who take large doses long term can develop addictions.
Brand Names for Hydrocodone
Surprisingly, patients sometimes don’t know they’re taking hydrocodone. After all, the strong opioid is marketed using several names. For example, Vicodin is hydrocodone mixed with acetaminophen. Despite the risks, Vicodin is taken by more than 16 million Americans. Likewise, Lortab, Lorcet, and Norco are pain medicines mixing these two substances.
Further, hydrocodone combined with ibuprofen becomes Vicoprofen. The FDA-approved Zohydro in 2013, too. Unlike the others, it’s purely made from hydrocodone. Unfortunately, its pureness makes Zohydro tablets very habit forming. After all, the drug packs up to 10 times more narcotic. Hence, finding an opioid addiction rehab program is essential for Zohydro users.
Side Effects of Hydrocodone Use
Again, the answer to is hydrocodone an opioid is yes. Accordingly, swallowing or snorting the drug will numb pain while delivering a “high.” On the negative side, hydrocodone use can cause severe damage to organs like the liver. Moreover, it usually disrupts the digestive system. In particular, users experience stomach cramping, constipation, and nausea. Other adverse effects can include:
- Extreme fatigue and fainting
- Muscle spasms and shakes
- Mood changes and depression
- Head and back pain
- Itching and throat irritation
- Blurred vision and dizziness
- Dark yellow urine and skin tone
Of course, dependence is the biggest threat of hydrocodone. By and large, opioid addicts face a severe illness called withdrawal when they miss doses. For this reason, they have to keep medicating. Then, hydrocodone users could accidentally take a fatally high dose. Plus, the continued use may lead to heart, lung, liver, and brain damage.
Is Hydrocodone an Opioid You Take?
At Crestview Recovery, we know that hydrocodone use can spiral out of control fast. Thus, our Portland addiction rehab center has created inpatient and outpatient opioid programs. Notably, we’re a leading Pacific Northwest facility for personalized drug therapy. Overall, Crestview boasts high success rates for sobriety and relapse prevention. Our low client-staff ratio allows for attentive services, such as:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior. CBT for addiction is based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all connected. So, if we can change our thoughts, we can change our behavior.
Mental Health Treatment
Mental health treatment is a process of assessment, diagnosis, and intervention that helps people with mental illness manage their condition and improve their quality of life. Treatment may include medication, therapy, or a combination of both. Mental health treatment is often most successful when it is tailored to the individual’s needs and goals.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a type of therapy that helps people suffering from mental or emotional disorders. It is a process that uses psychological methods to help people change their behavior and improve their mental health. Psychotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of disorders, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction.
Partial Hospitalization Program
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a treatment option for addiction that provides much of the same level of care as inpatient treatment but allows patients to return home each day. This can be a good option for those who need more structure and support than outpatient treatment alone can provide, but who do not require 24-hour care. PHPs typically offer a mix of individual and group therapy, as well as other activities and services designed to help patients recover from addiction.
Extended Care
Extended care for addiction is a treatment option that can provide long-term support for people recovering from substance use disorders. It typically involves staying in a residential treatment facility for an extended period of time, usually 30 days or more. Extended care can help people stay on track with their recovery and avoid relapse. It can also provide support and structure during the early stages of recovery when people are most at risk of relapse.
It’s Time to Take Back Your Life From Hydrocodone Addiction
Don’t keep risking your health with hydrocodone pills. Instead, leave addiction behind at Crestview Recovery. Proudly, we say yes to “Is hydrocodone an opioid you treat?” Altogether, our treatment team provides holistic care for all addictions. So, contact us now at 866.262.0531 to begin healing.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
