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In 2000, the National Institute on Drug Abuse listed hydrocodone (the narcotic ingredient in Vicodin) as an “emerging” recreational drug. Its use has risen steadily each year, and has now achieved the status of no longer being “emerging.”

According to Karen Miotto, MD, medical director of the Veterans Administration Los Angeles Ambulatory Clinic, “one reason pain killers like Vicodin are attractive to some people is because they provide a considerable feeling of well-being, but users can still function relatively normally in their jobs and personal lives—often getting away with it for years.”

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Vicodin has become one of the most commonly abused prescription medications. An article the May 10, 2006 edition of USA Today reported that more emergency room visits are caused by the misuse of Vicodin and other prescription drugs than by all other illicit drugs combined. Nearly half a million ER visits in 2004 were a result of opiate medications being abused by those without a legitimate need for the drug.

Prescribed for the relief of moderate to severe pain from injury, illness, surgery or a chronic condition, Vicodin is the most widely known brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Hydrocodone belongs to a group of drugs known as opiates (derived from opium), which also includes the brand names Anexsia, Co-Gesic, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Panacet and Zydone (as well as their generic equivalents). Chemically identical, these are all analgesic (pain-relieving) narcotics, meaning:

“A drug derived from opium or opium-like compounds, with
potent analgesic effects associated with significant alteration
of mood and behavior, and with the potential for dependence
and tolerance following repeated administration.”
(source: American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary)

When used as directed, Vicodin is an effective and safe pain reliever, its most common problematic side effect being constipation. In the following pages, you’ll learn how Vicodin is used to help those dealing with moderate to severe pain, as well as how and why Vicodin has become so widely abused. Finally, you’ll learn about recovery from Vicodin addiction, including different approaches to treatment.

Thank you for visiting. We hope you’ll find the information here to help you understand how to safely use prescription Vicodin, if you are an individual dealing with serious pain. If you’re someone who has found him or herself caught in the web of dependency or addiction to Vicodin, there are answers for you here, too.