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It’s mentioned in songs, TV shows, and movies. Celebrities
use it, get addicted to it, and go to rehab to get off of it. Some 20 tons of
it are reportedly produced each year. The prescription pain killer, Vicodin, is
among the most abused prescription drugs. In the 2006 Monitoring the Future
study from the University of Michigan, Vicodin ranked second only to Marijuana
in the top five drugs used by 12th graders in the past year.
Vicodin is a
narcotic-type pain killer commonly prescribed for the short-term management of
intense pain from injury or surgery. Its main component is hydrocodone, which
is an opioid—meaning it acts on the body like a narcotic. Hydrocodone binds to
opioid receptors in the brain and spinal chord, where it interrupts or alters
the perception of pain.
Vicodin increases
the activity of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, producing a euphoria similar to
that produced by other narcotics such as morphine or heroin. This is the
primary reason for the prevalence of abuse.
Dependency and
Withdrawal
Prolonged use of
Vicodin can result in a physical tolerance, meaning higher doses are required
to achieve the same effects. It also leads to physical dependency, wherein the
body adapts to the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if it is stopped.
The symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal may include restlessness,
fever, sweating, chills, goose bumps, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, nausea,
diarrhea, loss of appetite, involuntary leg movements, sneezing, watery eyes,
runny nose, irritability, panic, depression, persistent headache, and extreme
sensitivity to light and sound.
Side Effects
In Vicodin, the
opioid, hydrocodone is combined with another drug, acetaminophen, which is the
active ingredient in Tylenol. The addition of acetaminophen acts to increase
the analgesic effects and limit the intake of hydrocodone. At higher than
prescribed doses, it can cause unpleasant and often unsafe side effects
including damage to the liver. This is in addition to the side effects of the
hydrocodone.
Common side effects of Vicodin include dizziness,
lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Some less common side
effects are allergic reaction, blood disorders, changes in mood, mental
fogginess, anxiety, lethargy, difficulty urinating, spasm of the ureter,
irregular or depressed respiration, and rash. Euphoria and drowsiness are the
common side effects that have led to its illicit use.
Overdose symptoms
With the uncontrolled use of euphoria-causing narcotics
comes a high potential for overdose. The overdose victim may be lost in the
euphoria of the drug and fail to notice the symptoms or seek help. Symptoms of
a Vicodin overdose may include slow breathing, cold and clammy skin,
constricted pupils, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, weakness,
confusion, loss of consciousness and coma. Vicodin overdose can be fatal.
As with any drug, it’s important to be fully informed. Even
when prescribed and needed, Vicodin should be used with caution. Where its
abuse has reached the dependency stage, Narconon has the means to full
recovery—but it is far better never to have reached that stage.
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Drug Information 
