5 Consequences of Hydrocodone Recreational Use and Abuse

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Hydrocodone, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), is used to “relieve moderate-to-severe pain” and coughs. It is a prescription drug and should therefore only be taken at the dosage prescribed by a doctor. Unfortunately, many people abuse hydrocodone for its pain relieving and euphoric effects that high doses can cause.

Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid. Due to its ability to treat both cough and pain, it’s often found in many homes. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states, “Hydrocodone can be obtained from illicit internet sources, altered or fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, drug theft, and from friends or acquaintances.” While many individuals do not consider the consequences of the recreational use and abuse of hydrocodone, the ubiquity of hydrocodone is problematic for abusers as well as friends and loved ones, not to mention dangerous and sometimes, even deadly.

1. Overdose

One of the most common and dangerous consequences of hydrocodone abuse is the possibility for overdose. The NLM notes, “Hydrocodone overdose occurs when someone intentionally or accidentally takes too much medicine” containing this particular opioid. When a person overdoses on hydrocodone, they can experience severe respiratory depression to the point where they stop breathing altogether.

If someone overdoses on hydrocodone, they must be treated immediately. Unfortunately, many people who overdose on hydrocodone often do so alone. The medication can also make them fall asleep, which prevents them from seeking medical help. In many cases, unattended overdoses can cause brain damage, coma, or even death.

If you think someone you know has overdosed on hydrocodone, look for the signs. They include:

• Narrowed pupils
  • This characteristic is sometimes called pinpoint pupils because the pupils look like the head of a pin. Doctors check for this sign to see if the patient is intoxicated from opioids or some other drug.
• Shallow, slow, or no breathing
  • Respiratory depression is the deadliest aspect of hydrocodone overdose.
• Clammy skin
• Blue skin, fingernails, lips
• Extreme tiredness
• Loss of consciousness

2. Hydrocodone Withdrawal Syndrome

Nausea and anxiety are common hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms.

Even though hydrocodone withdrawal syndrome is not life-threatening or as dangerous as other withdrawal syndromes, quitting cold turkey will lead abusers to experience intense muscle and bone pain, depression, and insomnia among other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

This issue can often cause hydrocodone abusers to continue using the drug recreationally instead of stopping; they do not want to experience the intense symptoms associated with narcotic withdrawal, so they continue to abuse the drug. This can lead to other, more dangerous consequences as a result of hydrocodone abuse.

Other withdrawal symptoms experienced by hydrocodone abusers are:

• Restlessness
• Runny nose
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Abdominal pain

3. Heroin Abuse

Many younger people who start out abusing prescription drugs that contain hydrocodone and other opioids soon become tolerant to the effects of the drug. This means that, over time, it takes much more than the original amount for them to feel the effects. Often, they will decide to turn to harder substances.

According to the NIDA, “Prescription opioid pain medications such as Oxycontin and Vicodin [the second of which contains hydrocodone] can have effects similar to heroin when taken in doses or in ways other than prescribed, and research now suggests that abuse of these drugs may actually open the door to heroin abuse.” A survey of younger individuals who abuse heroin showed that nearly half abused prescription opioids before they started taking heroin.

There are many dangerous of prescription opioid abuse, and hydrocodone can be deadly. But heroin is extremely addictive and dangerous, and not just for the same reasons as hydrocodone. As stated by the NIH, collapsed veins, infections in the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver disease affect chronic heroin users, as well as issues like clogged blood vessels from additives in the drug itself.

Effects of Hydrocodone Abuse

Prescription drug abuse is rampant in the US, and hydrocodone is one of the main substances. Abusing the drug is very dangerous, and can quickly lead to a struggle with addiction.

4. Mental Disorders

When a person abuses drugs like hydrocodone, larger problems may occur over time, not just physically, but mentally as well. The NIDA states that drug abusers are “twice as likely” to have another type of mental disorder, such as the following:

• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Alcoholism
• Psychosis
• Bipolar Disorder

We can’t always know if a co-occurring mental disorder was caused by drug use, but we do know that “drug abuse may bring about symptoms of another mental disorder.” If someone is vulnerable to these mental conditions, drug abuse only makes it worse.

5. Addiction

Like all other opioid drugs, hydrocodone is addictive when taken for the wrong reasons, at the wrong dosage, or without a prescription entirely. The drug is habit-forming and abusers soon begin to crave it. They also gradually develop tolerance to the drug’s effects, which will make them just want to take more.

Drug addiction can cause problems in every aspect of an individual’s life. If you think you may be addicted to hydrocodone, ask yourself the questions below.

• Do you feel that your use of hydrocodone is not under your control?
• Do you feel like you need the drug just to feel normal?
• Have you ever abused hydrocodone when you’re alone?
• Have all other aspects of your life, even ones that you used to care deeply about, become less interesting to you?
• Have you ever experienced overdose and/or withdrawal symptoms as a result of your hydrocodone abuse?
• Are your friends and family worried about the amount of hydrocodone you abuse?
• Has your hydrocodone abuse caused problems for you at work or in school to the point of you becoming criticized, fired, etc.?
• Are you experiencing financial problems because you spend too much money on hydrocodone?
• Are you unhappy unless you are taking hydrocodone?
• Do you only want to spend time with others who abuse hydrocodone?
• Have you experienced legal problems as a result of your hydrocodone abuse?
• Do you feel that you can’t stop taking hydrocodone even if you wanted to?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, you are addicted to hydrocodone. Seeking treatment as soon as possible is necessary, as addiction can consume your entire life.

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