How to Help a Hydrocodone Addict

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Each day, hydrocodone addiction takes its toll on people across the country.  It destroys jobs, families and lives. There is a good chance that you know someone who is addicted to hydrocodone. If you care for them, you need to encourage them to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Encouraging someone to seek treatment can be difficult at best. Fortunately, we can help. To find the information you need to help the hydrocodone addict in your life, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) .

Understand Hydrocodone Addiction

To help someone with a hydrocodone addiction, you need to understand addiction in general and hydrocodone addiction specifically.

What is hydrocodone addiction?

Hydrocodone is a popular yet highly addictive painkiller prescribed to thousands of people every day. Painkillers like hydrocodone are in the opiate/opioid family of drugs. Its chemical makeup is similar to heroin and morphine, although it is not as strong. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction occurs when someone continues to use a substance, such as hydrocodone, despite the negative consequences.

Why do People Get Addicted to Hydrocodone?

People become addicted to hydrocodone for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

• They take hydrocodone due to a chronic pain disorder, and build a tolerance to it. Instead of going to the doctor, they continue to increase their own dose. Before too long, they are addicted and turn to other means of acquiring it.
• They use hydrocodone because they feel socially isolated, and it makes them feel better.
• They use hydrocodone to self-medicate for an undiagnosed mental illness.
• They decide to use hydrocodone recreationally and find themselves addicted.

Most people find that their addiction increases as time goes on. This means that they cannot quit on their own, even if they wanted to.

Recognizing the Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction

Withdrawing from loved ones is a sign of addiction.

There are some very obvious signs of hydrocodone addiction that you need to recognize. These signs will help you to differentiate between dependence and addiction. The signs of hydrocodone addiction often include:

• Taking more than the amount that was originally prescribed
• Withdrawing from both friends and family
• Withdrawal symptoms without it
• Stealing money, prescriptions, medication or valuables to obtain hydrocodone
• Lying about how much they are using, where they are, or what they are doing to hide their hydrocodone use
• Mood swings, anxiety, paranoia or violent behavior
• Lack of self-care or poor hygiene
• Legal or financial trouble
• Job loss or chronic unemployment

It is important to remember that hydrocodone is a prescribed medication and some people cannot live pain-free without it. If the person is not exhibiting the signs of addiction, they could just be dependent on it as a pain reliever.

Research the Treatment Options

Knowing what treatment options are available before you try to help an addict is very important. Presenting these options might be the best way to show them that treatment is obtainable. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one of the most effective forms of treatment for opioid use disorder is medication-assisted treatment. This treatment includes:

• Medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, Suboxone, and Subutex
• Counseling, such as cognitive behavioral therapy
• 12 Step Programs
• Drug addiction education
• Other forms of education, such as parenting or job skills training
• Alternative therapies
• Medical assistance

Once the individual in treatment has stabilized, the doctor and patient make the decision to either remain on these supportive medications or taper off them.

In the case of chronic pain, many doctors and patients decide to continue the methadone or other medication as a form of pain control as well as addiction control.

How is Hydrocodone Addiction Treated?

After a thorough medical evaluation, someone with a hydrocodone addiction will likely be treated with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.

Stop Enabling the Addict

Do not make it easier for the addict to obtain drugs by enabling them. Enabling behaviors include:

• Making excuses for the addict and the addiction
• Loaning the addict money or paying their bills
• Allowing them to continue to use around you
• Guarding them from the legal consequences of addiction

Enabling is very difficult to stop because you might see it as helping them. Unfortunately, letting them continue to use it is not helping; it is making the addiction worse.

Have a Talk with the Hydrocodone Addict

When you talk with the individual about their hydrocodone addiction, it is important to do it when they are not actively intoxicated. It is also important to find an appropriate place and time to speak with them. A few tips on talking with them are:

• Make sure they understand that you are saying this because you care about them
• Mention the health effects of short- and long-term hydrocodone addiction
• Do not judge them for their addiction; being nonjudgmental is extremely important
• Make sure that they understand how their addiction is affecting you
• If they are angry or resistant, back off and try again later

Starting a conversation is often the first step toward helping someone seek addiction treatment.  How you approach is should be tailored to your relationship with the person and how well you know them.  It’s best to bring up concerns thoughtfully and at a time when they are sover and not experiencing intense withdrawal, so they are more likely to engage openly and clearly.

Finding Help

You can find help for both talking an addict into seeking treatment and for finding the best treatment facility by calling 800-934-1582(Sponsored) . You can help those close to you find the path to recovery.

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