Hydrocodone Addiction It�s Just Medicine Right?

Hydrocodone addiction and use has been increasing dramatically in the past ten years. In fact, the average use of hydrocodone in the United States has increased by 300% of the past decade. Likewise, the number of emergency room visits related to hydrocodone abuse and use has increased by 500%.

Hydrocodone is an opiate used to control pain and an anti-cough medication. Since hydrocodone is taken orally, it has become an attractive drug of choice for people suffering from addiction to opiates that normally are taken via needle. To satisfy their need for hydrocodone, people suffering from hydrocodone dependance call in phony prescriptions and steal hydrocodone from pharmacies.

Hydrocodone dependance affects people of all ages. Hydrocodone abuse is often looked at as a �white collar� problem that is used only by professionals. In reality, it is steadily increasing among all groups of people. Yet, the most likely group of people to suffer are 10-40 year old white women.

Recovering from hydrocodone abuse can be difficult because hydrocodone creates both a mental and a physical dependancy. In the person suffering, the hydrocodone stimulates opiate receptors in the brain. For the user, this results in feeling extreme pleasure.

A feeling of relaxation and satisfaction that can last for many hours then follows the initial high created by hydrocodone in the person with a hydrocodone addiction. Along with the feeling of relaxation, the respiratory system is affected � causing a decrease in the rate of breathing. This slow down in the sufferer can be fatal.

Traditionally, treatment dealt with both the psychological side and the symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal. This method, however, has not proven to be a highly effective method for treating hydrocodone dependancy.

A newer method is called Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR). ANR looks at hydrocodone dependancy as a disease that needs to be treated with medical techniques. This method has shown a greater effectiveness.

No matter the method of treatment used, it is imperative the sufferer gets help with his problem � it can be a matter of life or death.