Such feelings form the foundation of addiction in some people. One of the appeals of Vicodin is its ability to create feelings of euphoria even as it blocks pain signals in the brain and spinal cord. Abusing Vicodin long enough will have such a profound effect on the brain that addiction becomes inevitable. In the case of Vicodin, it alters brain functioning by interfering with neurotransmitters and influencing the production of certain brain chemicals. Note that any psychoactive drug being abused by a user can lead to eventual addiction. We now understand addiction to be a brain disease, allowing us to view it through the lens of medical treatment – both physical and psychological – rather than behaviour modification alone. Regardless of the cause, Vicodin abuse and addiction can be treated in a medical setting. And once Vicodin abuse starts, the risk of addiction becomes very real. Anyone who begins using the drug on either a prescription or recreational basis has the potential to abuse the drug. Each of them is explained later in this guide.įor now, it is enough to know that Vicodin abuse and addiction are not limited to a particular demographic. These are family history, mental illness, brain response, and the environment.
However, there are several risk factors that have been linked to the problem. There is no single cause of Vicodin abuse and addiction that medical science knows of. Like so many other pain medications though, there are some individuals who start with a legitimate Vicodin prescription before transitioning to abuse and addiction. As such, the drug is most often used under the supervision of a doctor by way of a prescription written based on the needs of the patient. Vicodin’s ability to relieve pain makes it an important tool for doctors looking to help patients manage the pain of surgical procedures, accidents, and disease. One formula could have a higher strength of hydrocodone while the ratio between the two drugs is more balanced in another formula. However, the strength of the two drugs in combination influences whether Vicodin actually accomplishes that goal. Paracetamol is an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication that you can buy at any pharmacy or supermarket.Ĭombining hydrocodone and paracetamol into a single drug offers the ability to treat moderate to severe pain with a drug that is considered less potent and less likely to be abused than straight opiates. As for paracetamol, it is an analgesic you might also know as acetaminophen. The hydrocodone component is an opiate pain medication that is only available in the UK by prescription. Its dual name is indicative of the fact that the drug is a combination of two other drugs. The generic name for Vicodin is hydrocodone/paracetamol.