Rehab for Hydrocodone

Although it’s one of the most commonly prescribed pain relievers, hydrocodone is also very addictive. Rehab for hydrocodone has helped many individuals break their ties with this drug, and it can help you as well. Read on for more information about rehab for hydrocodone and what to expect.

6
minute read

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Rehab includes detox, medications, and psychotherapy. This article explores the types of rehabs available for hydrocodone problems and what you can expect during stages of treatment.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Addiction is a Medical Condition

Has your hydrocodone use led you down a dark, unwanted path to addiction? We’ve got good news. You can get better! In fact, addiction is a medical condition. When treated medically, you can live a life of purpose and satisfaction. You can live totally drug-free.

So, if you have dealing with hydrocodone addiction on your own, it may be time to seek help. Trying to quit by yourself can be difficult and less effective than seeking professional help. So, if you’ve tried (and failed) to quit hydrocodone in the past, we encourage you to think about seeking help.

Here, we’ll review best practices in the treatment of hydrocodone addiction. We’ll explain what every reputable rehab should have in place. Then, we welcome your questions at the end of the article. In fact, we try to respond to all real-life questions with a personal and prompt reply.

Uses and Risk

Hydrocodone is a commonly prescribed strong opiate pain reliever. This drug is usually prescribed to patients experiencing intense acute or chronic pain, but it can also be used as a recreational drug. Either way, hydrocodone has a high risk for addiction. This is why it has been classified as a Schedule II drug by the Controlled Substances Act.

In sum, hydrocodone is psychoactive; it affects and changes the way that the brain functions. It has a relatively high risk for addiction, even when it is prescribed for pain.

Finding the Motivation

Making the decision to enter rehab for hydrocodone is not always as simple as it sounds. Some individuals addicted to this pain killer may spend years convincing themselves that they don’t have a problem, and others may not believe that they need help. Unfortunately, a hydrocodone addiction can be very strong, and quitting on your own may not work.

People with addiction problems decide to quit after long recognizing that they have a serious health problem or after hitting the rock bottom. But why would you want to go to rehab? These are some of the usual motivations people think of when they want to quit hydrocodone:

I want to be a better parent.
My parents deserve a son/daughter to be proud of.
I want to pass my college exams.
In order to get the wanted advancement I must be a productive worker.
My girlfriend/boyfriend deserves a healthy partner.

It does not always have to be just kids and relationships that give you something to be sober for. A dream of an early retirement became some people’s motivation force. Some people even calculated how much they’ve spent on hydrocodone and planed how to save that money and use it for a much meaningful purpose. Discover what you want from life and use it as a motivational fuel to reach sobriety.

Stages of Treatment

Rehab is an excellent option for anyone looking to live free from opioid drugs. Hydrocodone rehab programs can be hosted by inpatient or outpatient centers, and are designed to teach people how to live drug-free lives. In fact, addiction counselors, psychiatrists, and medical doctors use a number of methods and offer several services to help addicts learn how to break a hydrocodone habit for good.

While there is no one size fits all approach to hydrocodone addiction treatment, some of the main stages of treatment, therapies, and services are listed below.

STAGE 1. Assessment

Everyone entering rehab should be first evaluated and assessed by medical professionals. This initial assessment is used to determine the severity of a person’s addiction (both physical and psychological dependence) as well as possible underlying causes. This information is then used to put together a unique addiction treatment plan based on a patient’s individual situation.

Patients are also evaluated periodically during the course of their treatment to determine how well it’s working. In some cases, a patient’s care plan may need to be adjusted, such as when a certain treatment method is not working.

STAGE 2. Medical detox from hydrocodone

When a person stops taking hydrocodone completely, it will often cause a number of withdrawal symptoms as the body tries to adjust to the absence of the opioid drug. Some of these withdrawal symptoms include pain, trouble sleeping, restlessness, and gastrointestinal problems. Doctors and nurses attend to addicts during medical hydrocodone detox to help ease withdrawal symptoms and provide encouragement.

Some people may opt to go through medical detox, which is the process of detoxing from hydrocodone under medical supervision. Although detox for hydrocodone isn’t usually necessary, medical detox can decrease the likelihood of a relapse during this crucial stage. Additionally, many doctors advise against quitting hydrocodone cold turkey. Instead, they recommend slowly reducing the amount of hydrocodone a person takes each day until they are eventually taking none. Weaning off of the drug can help prevent the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that many hydrocodone addicts experience.

STAGE 3. Psychological treatment for hydrocodone addiction

A strong, healthy mind is often the key to beating a drug problem. This is why rehabs include psychological treatments like psychotherapy and counseling as cornerstone modalities. During these sessions, recovering addicts will learn about their addictions, what contributes to them, and how to overcome them.

Underlying mental health problems will also usually be treated with therapy during hydrocodone rehab. Family counseling or family therapy may also be used to address systemic dysfunctions within the family system. Family therapy helps loved ones better understand addiction and work on repairing relationships to ultimately support and love the addict during recovery.

STAGE 4. Education

The disease model of addiction states that addiction is a disease caused by biological, environmental, and genetic factors. During rehab, most people usually attend and benefit from several educational sessions. These sessions are designed to help you better understand theoretical models of addiction and teach coping skills. You’ll understand how hydrocodone really affects and changes the brain. You’ll also look at what triggers your cravings…and how to overcome them. This added rational element of treatment helps peoples make different decisions about drug use upon discharge from treatment.

STAGE 5. Supportive services

Rehab programs are typically designed to provide recovering addicts with all of the support they could need during this difficult time in their lives. Adjunct or complementary services can include social services, such as case management. Since rehab can also be rather expensive, some patients may even qualify for financial support or assistance that can help cover the cost of treatment.

Finally, a goodrehab center may offer vocational or educational training services, in addition to connecting patients to halfway houses, addiction counseling, and aftercare programs.

Medication Assisted Treatment 

Drugs used to treat hydrocodone withdrawal and addiction include:

  • Methadone is used to prevent withdrawal symptoms and help you with cravings.
  • Buprenorphine discourages drug use by providing a ceiling to the euphoric effects. Once hydrocodone effects reach a certain point, taking more won’t feel good.
  • Naltrexone blocks the euphoric effects of hydrocodone. This medicine discourages the need for continued drug abuse.

You may also benefit from short-term antidepressant medications to treat serotonin imbalances in the nervous system. However, each case will be individually assessed and medications prescribed during rehab, as necessary.

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Addiction is treatable with professional help.
Don’t let the need for hydrocodone hunt you for the rest of your life.
Give us a call.

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Your Questions

If you have any additional questions, don’t leave them in the comments section below. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go through a drug issue alone. We’re here to help you every step of the way. We’ll do our best to respond to you in a timely and personal manner.

Reference Sources: DEA: Drug Fact Sheets
NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)
NIDA: DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
State of New Jersey: Division of Addiction Services
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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