Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment In Ohio | Ohio Recovery Center

Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid/opiate drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. In the form of the brand name medications Vicodin, Lortab, and Norco, it is formulated in combination with acetaminophen, a mild pain reliever.

As with oxycodone, a similar prescription painkiller, hydrocodone is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, signaling that it has a very high potential for drug abuse and for the development of physical dependence and addiction.

Hydrocodone addiction treatment options in Ohio are likely to include medical detox support, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

Ohio Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment Options

Any effective professional addiction treatment program for a prescription opioid like hydrocodone must be personalized and tailored to fit your individual needs and goals.

Your treatment program may feature a variety of interventions and types of care, and should be adjusted and fine-tuned as your treatment progresses.

Common elements of a hydrocodone addiction treatment plan in Ohio may include:

Medical Detox

Opioid withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous without medical supervision. 

Medical detoxification programs, both inpatient and outpatient, provide care and attention for those moving through withdrawal, improving safety, comfort, and confidence during this difficult process.

Inpatient Care

Inpatient rehabilitation programs, also known as residential rehab programs, provide focused and intensive treatment for those with severe substance use disorder. 

Participants live inside their designated rehab center for a prolonged period of time (often 30-60 days) while participating in different treatment sessions each day.

These treatment interventions can include mental health counseling, various forms of behavioral therapy, family therapy, alternative therapies, peer support, dual diagnosis care, and group therapy.

Outpatient Care

Participants in outpatient rehab programs are expected to continue living at home while they travel to treatment sessions during the week.

While regular outpatient care is less intensive and makes heavy use of individual or group counseling, there are also intensive outpatient treatment options that can be a good fit for those unable to participate in inpatient care.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT programs use FDA-approved medications in combination with counseling, behavioral therapy, and other interventions to help those in recovery from opioid use disorder improve their overall treatment effectiveness.

The three medications used in opioid-focused MAT programs are:

• methadone, a long-acting opioid that can relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings
• buprenorphine (Suboxone), a partial opioid agonist that can also relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings with a lower potential for misuse than methadone
• naltrexone, an opioid antagonist that blocks opioid receptors and prevents opioid drugs from having any effect while naltrexone is active in the body

Aftercare

Recovering from opioid addiction is a lifelong commitment that doesn’t end when your time in inpatient or outpatient treatment does.

Aftercare programs are designed to provide continuing support, assistance, and accountability for those who have completed rehabilitation, and may include programs like:

• employment counseling
• case management
• peer support groups

Understanding Hydrocodone Abuse & Addiction

When used, hydrocodone is absorbed into the bloodstream and interacts with specialized opioid receptors located throughout the central nervous system, especially the brain. 

This interaction changes how the brain responds to pain signals, providing relief for those who have had an injury or recently come out of surgery. Hydrocodone can also relieve mental and physical tension and anxiety, generating feelings of pleasure.

These pleasurable feelings can be habit-forming for many individuals. If abused in higher doses the drug will likely trigger the brain’s dopamine system and a dangerous heroin-like euphoria.

This ability to relieve pain and provide intense pleasure has driven a widespread increase in prescription opioid misuse in recent decades, along with a steady surge in drug overdose deaths and cases of severe opioid/opiate addiction.

Other long-term health issues associated with chronic opioid/hydrocodone abuse include constipation, sleep-disordered breathing, heart disease, increased sensitivity to pain, anxiety, depression, immune system dysfunction, sexual and reproductive dysfunctions, and addiction.

Hydrocodone Dependence & Withdrawal

As addiction develops, drug use may become increasingly chronic and compulsive, and attempts to stop taking it may fail. 

Many individuals may begin stealing, doctor shopping, or ordering illicit prescription drugs online in order to maintain their supply of the drug. Relationships, finances, and other responsibilities will be neglected or sabotaged.

At the same time, any attempt to cut back on opioids or give them up entirely is likely to cause uncomfortable hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms, which can include cravings, chills, sweating, runny nose, muscle aches, racing heart rate, agitation, or even life-threatening seizures.

Chronic or reckless opioid use can also lead to overdoses, which are often deadly in the absence of naloxone (an opioid antidote) and/or prompt medical care.

If you or a loved one struggle with non-medical hydrocodone use or drug addiction and are ready to make a change, please reach out to Ohio Recovery Center today.