Is Hydrocodone Addictive?

Is Hydrocodone Addictive?

Helping others through addiction recovery not only supports them but can also be deeply fulfilling for those offering help. This is especially true for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), including those misusing hydrocodone. Still, many people wonder, “Is hydrocodone addictive?” The answer is a resounding “yes.” Fortunately, there are many effective approaches and treatments available to support lasting recovery from hydrocodone addiction.

Understand Addiction

Addiction affects millions of people all over the world. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “40.3 million people in the United States had an SUD in 2020. In 2020, only 6.5 percent of people with SUD received treatment.” Also, “In 2021, about 107,000 people died of drug overdoses.” These are not insignificant numbers.

Many people are confused about what addiction actually is. Many people still think of addiction as some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is a fallacy. The reality is that addiction is a disease, and like other chronic diseases, without some type of professional intervention, it will almost always get worse. This is especially true with opioids and synthetic opioids like hydrocodone.

Opioid Use Disorder

So, what is opioid use disorder (OUD) and how many people does it affect? According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Opioid Use Disorder, by Doctors Dydyk, Jain, and Gupta, “Opioid use disorder (OUD) is defined as the chronic use of opioids that causes clinically significant distress or impairment. Symptoms of this disease include an overpowering desire to use opioids, increased opioid tolerance, and withdrawal syndrome when opioids are discontinued. Thus, OUD can range from dependence on opioids to addiction. OUD affects over 16 million people worldwide and over 2.1 million in the United States.”

OUD also comes in many forms. This includes the form of synthetic opioid addiction that affects people who use hydrocodone.

What Is Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is a synthetic opioid that can be very dangerous if used improperly. Many people use hydrocodone improperly because it was long glorified on social media and popular culture as “fun” and harmless. This is simply untrue. One of the primary reasons has to do with addiction.

Is Hydrocodone Addictive?

Is hydrocodone addictive? The answer is an absolute, “yes.” It is addictive like any other type of opioid or synthetic opioid.

However, addiction is not the only issue that comes with hydrocodone use. Many other types of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues arise when hydrocodone addiction is present.

Recognizing Hydrocodone Addiction

The signs and symptoms of excessive hydrocodone use and hydrocodone addiction will vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Experiencing trouble at work or school
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Not being able to stop once using hydrocodone 
• Loss of appetite (or excessive appetite) and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and wellbeing
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Experiencing impaired judgment
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
• Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Causing harm to oneself or others
• Having suicidal ideations

TAs one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can even be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help for hydrocodone addiction sooner rather than later is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between experiencing short-term side effects and long-term consequences.

Recovery Options

The good news is there are many effective recovery options for opioid addiction and hydrocodone addiction. These options include holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation, experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy, and especially psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

CBT can be particularly effective because it helps get to the underlying issues of addiction and makes the individual an “active participant” in their recovery. According to Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns…  Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”

Our Primary Purpose at The Phoenix Recovery Center

Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, our primary purpose is to help our clients achieve long-term success by any means necessary. This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive with a focus on the future.

There is no longer time to wait. Recovery is out there. It is time to go out and grab it.

Hydrocodone can be highly addictive and cause many negative short and long-term effects. It is important to understand these effects better so one can know how to best recover from a hydrocodone addiction. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for long-term recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD). If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. FTo begin your healing journey complete this short form or call The Phoenix Recovery Center at (801) 438-3185.