Vicodin is a pain reliever which combines the opioid narcotic hydrocodone and pain reliever acetaminophen to produce fast relief of symptoms. Sometimes, people abuse Vicodin, including crushing the tablet and snorting the powder.
Snorting any substance tends to produce a quicker high—it’s the reason snorting appeals to the addicted individual. But snorting Vicodin can also cause some dangerous consequences, including the following:
- Fast, unpredictable “rush”: while this may appeal to someone seeking that high, it’s dangerous because you can’t control it. Essentially, the high is more intense when snorting, and that increases your chance of intensified side effects and overdose.
- Increased risk of addiction: if you are just snorting recreationally, and haven’t struggled with addiction yet, you increase your risk of addiction by snorting. Addiction results from the changes in the brain when you abuse a substance.
- Breathing and sinus issues: these can include everything from sores and sinus infections to nose bleeds and choking.
- Enhanced side effects: snorting any substances enhances the side effects you’ll experience, which increases risks associated with abuse.
Prolonged abuse by snorting can lead to other physical troubles, like severe congestions that can keep you up at night, lung infections, pneumonia, voice changes, and sleep apnea.
What Are The Side Effects?
In addition to the immediate rush, here are some side effects you may experience with Vicodin abuse:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Slowed breathing
- In extreme cases, coma
Side effects experienced depend on the person abusing the drug, duration of abuse, and amount of the drug abused. Prolonged abuse can lead to tolerance, which means you may start taking more of the drug to get the same effects.
After a while, your body becomes dependent on the effects of the drug. When not taking it, you may undergo withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal for opioids isn’t always severe, but it can be enough to keep you from stopping abuse.
Addiction takes its toll on your health and in your life. One of the biggest concerns that comes with addiction to opioids like Vicodin is the risk of overdose.
Overdose—What’s The Risk?
Overdose is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know experiences Vicodin overdose symptoms, you should seek help right away. These include the following, according to Mayo Clinic:
- Blood in or cloudy appearance to urine
- Chest pain
- Cold, clammy skin
- Confusion
- Extreme drowsiness
- Increased sweating
- Irregular heartbeat
- Lack of breathing
- Lack of muscle movement
- Lack of response
- Loss of consciousness
- No pulse
- Stopped heartbeat
How To Get Help For Vicodin Abuse
If you have been abusing Vicodin, then you know how easy it is to get addicted, and how fast it happens. Withdrawal only keeps you from wanting to quit—the cravings alone may seem unbearable at times.
But stopping abuse and breaking the addiction cycle is important. By making that change, you can live without the risk of overdose, without the adverse effects to your health and life, and with a new set of life goals. In treatment, you can get help implementing these changes. At DrugRehab.org, we have access to some of the best rehabilitation centers in the nation, and contacting us is a phone call or click away.
What Happens In Treatment?
With opioid addiction treatment, you first undergo a detoxification period. During opioid abuse, your body is exposed to a lot of toxins, and this process allows you to rid yourself of them. After detoxification comes healing.
Healing works differently for everybody. That’s because we each have unique treatment needs, just as we are unique individuals. Our rehab centers work to design a plan that meets your specific treatment needs. For instance, if you are a woman seeking treatment for opioid abuse and mental health issues, your needs might be different from a man seeking treatment for alcohol abuse.
Many of our facilities offer a variety of treatment modalities based on the array of people who seek services. Methods may be used in combination with other types of treatment to ensure a comprehensive healing plan.
There are aspects of treatment which focus on healing your mind and behavioral habits. Much of recovering from addiction includes reversing the way the brain has learned to function during substance abuse. That’s why we offer behavioral therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which teaches you to build positive lifestyle habits you will continue after completing your rehab stay.
You’ll also work on healing your body, engaging in adventure therapy or wilderness therapy which pairs activity and the benefits of nature with motivation, skill-building, and capabilities. The result of this is rejuvenation of the body and spirit, and an increase in self-confidence and sense of fulfillment.
To ease the process of withdrawal during detoxification, you may be offered medication, known as medication assisted therapy. With careful monitoring and medical supervision, you can withdraw from opioid abuse safely and effectively, with as little pain as possible.
These are just some of the methods offered at our rehab centers. To build a plan that is right for you, we take into account your unique needs and help you work daily toward your end goals.
Don’t Delay Recovery
Falling into addiction is easy, it’s overcoming it that can be difficult. Don’t let that stop you from seeking the help you need and deserve. We’re here to make the entire process of recovery as easy as possible so you can get back to focusing on what matters most: your life.
Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to find more information about Vicodin abuse and addiction and where to find treatment.
For More Information Related to “The Dangers Of Snorting Vicodin (Hydrocodone)” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From RehabCenter.net:
- The Dangers of Snorting Adderall
- The Dangers of Snorting Oxycontin (Oxycodone)
- Snorting, Smoking, or Injecting Drugs: Which Gets You Addicted
- What is Heroin Cut With?
- Scholarships And Grants To Cover Costs Of Drug Rehabilitation
- Paying For Drug Rehab With Insurance
Sources
Mayo Clinic—Hydrocodone And Acetaminophen (Oral Route)
U.S. National Library Of Medicine—Hydrocodone
WebMD—Vicodin