Hydrocodone is a narcotic that is mixed with other substances to produce pain killers. However, the pain killers that contain hydrocodone are highly addictive and more and more people are finding themselves with a hydrocodone addiction and are seeking medications such as Vicodin or Lortab.
Hydrocodone is a schedule III drug and as such it is easily abused. Doctors can use these medications easier then schedule II drugs. They can write prescriptions with refils, fill requests over the phone, and give it out as needed. All this ease makes it easier for the doctor and the patient, but it also makes it easier to abuse the drugs.
There are a few signs that you may be addicted to these drugs. They can include taking the medications for non-prescribed reasons, taking them more often then prescribed, taking a larger dose then recommended, or seeking the medications.
Hydrocodone is structurally similar to cocaine and is as strong as morphine. As such it is easy to become addicted to it and many people find themselves struggling with addiction after only seven days of taking the medication!
These addictions are serious and treatment usually requires a treatment center with detox time. While treatment centers vary in how they handle hydrocodone addiction there are various medical, psychological, and nutritional options and most centers use a combination of these to get the patient clean. Hydrocodone is a serious thing and the addiction is also serious. With more then 90 million new prescriptions each year there is a lot to be concerned about!