Is Hydrocodone Addictive?
Hydrocodone is highly addictive and is a major contributor to the opioid epidemic in America. Hydrocodone has the highest level of abuse of any prescription medication.
How do you get addicted to hydrocodone? People become addicted to hydrocodone and other opioids because of their effects on the brain’s reward system. This reward system is how the brain motivates people to do things that are necessary for survival.
When people do something necessary for survival, the brain releases “feel-good” chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain, and the result is a feeling of pleasure. This reaction is why people feel good after they eat a good meal, for example.
Opioids release neurotransmitters in huge amounts — about ten times the amount naturally produced. This pleasurable feeling is the start of the addiction. People begin to crave this pleasurable feeling and begin using the drug for that effect rather than for its intended use.
Some people are more likely than others to become addicted to hydrocodone. A combination of genetics and life circumstances come together to make up an individual’s predisposition to addiction. Mental health disorders and addiction are closely tied together. The situation where they occur together is referred to as “comorbidity,” which occurs in more than half of people with addiction.
How long does it take to get addicted to hydrocodone? Not long. Hydrocodone addiction can begin with only one dose, especially in people with a lot of predisposing factors, and people with untreated mental health disorders.
If you or a loved one struggle with a hydrocodone addiction, contact The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health to speak with a representative about how professional addiction treatment can help. With individualized treatment programs, The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Healt ensures that each client receives the addiction treatment that will help them on their path to sobriety. You deserve a healthier future, call today.
- Sources
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Coleman, John. “Rescheduling hydrocodone combination products: Addressing the abuse of America’s favorite opioid.” American Society of Addiction Medicine, April 10, 2015. Accessed July 8, 2019.
Devarakonda, K; Kostenbader, K; Giuliani M; et al. “Comparison of single-dose and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics between two formulations of hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen: immediate-release versus biphasic immediate- release/extended release.” Journal of Pain Research, September 9, 2015. Accessed July 8, 2019.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). “Hydrocodone.” October 2018. Accessed July 8, 2019.
Dowell, Deborah; Haegerich, Tamara; Chou, Roger. “CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain – United States, 2016.” CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 15, 2016. Accessed July 8, 2019.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.