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Vicodin Drug Addiction Drug
Rehab
Vicodin addiction is a growing crisis in the
United States. While illegal drugs like cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine,
and heroin remain in the headlines many individuals may be surprised to know
that Vicodin addiction could lurk right behind them as one of the most
widely-abused drugs of addiction. In fact, the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration believes Vicodin may be the most abused prescription drug in the
country. Nationwide, its use has quadrupled in the last ten years, while
emergency room visits attributed to Vicodin abuse soared 500 percent.
Vicodin--one of more than 200 other products that contain
hydrocodone--is regulated by state and federal law, but it is not controlled as
closely as other powerful painkillers. The lack of regulation makes them
vulnerable to widespread abuse and addiction through forged prescriptions,
theft, over-prescription, and "doctor shopping." Vicodin pills have been sold
for $2 to $10 per tablet and $20 to $40 per 8 oz bottle on the street.
Subject to individual tolerance, many medical experts believe
dependence or addiction can occur within one to four weeks at higher doses of
Vicodin. Published reports of high profile movie stars, TV personalities and
professional athletes who are recovering from Vicodin addiction are grim
testimony to its debilitating effects.
Vicodin is structurally related
to codeine and is approximately equal in strength to morphine in producing
opiate-like effects.
Every age group has been affected by the relative
ease of Vicodin availability and the perceived safety of these products by
professionals. Sometimes seen as a "white-collar" addiction, Vicodin abuse has
increased among all ethnic and economic groups. DAWN data demographics suggest
that the most likely Vicodin abuser is a 20-40 yr old, white, female, who uses
the drug because she is dependent or trying to commit suicide. However,
Vicodin-related deaths have been reported from every age grouping.
Examples of how severe Vicodin addiction has become:
An estimated 7 million dosage units were diverted in 1994 and
over 11 million in 1997.
In 1998 there were over 56 million new
prescriptions written for hydrocodone products like Vicodin and by 2000 there
were over 89 million.
From 1990 the average consumption nationwide has
increased by 300%. In the same period there has been a 500% increase in the
number of Emergency Department visits attributed to Vicodin abuse with 19,221
visits estimated in 2000. In 1997, there were over 1.3 million Vicodin tablets
seized and analyzed by the DEA laboratory system. |
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