Hydrocodone Addiction Intervention Treatment in Florida
Hydrocodone is the most commonly prescribed drug in America. Unfortunately, the drug is responsible for countless drug addictions every year. Hydrocodone addiction intervention methods and treatment facilities in Florida help addicts overcome dangerous opioid addiction. Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid that is typically prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Unlike most natural opioids that are derived from the opium poppy plant, hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid. Due to the addictive nature of all opioids, hydrocodone holds the possibility of users developing an addiction. Hydrocodone is highly addictive, but with drug rehab in Florida and support, those struggling with addiction can lead a healthy and sober life.
What is Hydrocodone, and How is it Used?
Hydrocodone is a prescription medication prescribed for its pain relief and cough suppressant qualities. When taken long-term orabused, hydrocodone carries a high risk for developing tolerance and addiction due to the feelings of euphoria that can accompany the pain relief.
Hydrocodone comes in tablet form and is typically taken once every 12 hours or once a day. Those who abuse the drug will crush, chew or dissolve the capsules to releaseall of the opioid at once, and experience the pain-relieving effects quicker and more intensely.
What are the Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Hydrocodone Abuse?
Hydrocodone is designed to change the user’s perception of the pain, a relief for those experiencing pain. Some of the short-term effects of hydrocodone use include:
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Trouble sleeping/nightmares
- Muscle weakness
Some of the more serious short-term effects are:
- Bowel obstruction
- Breathing problems
- Slowed or irregular heartbeat
- Severe allergic reaction (rash, hives, itching, or swelling)
- Trouble urinating
Long-term abuse can change the way the brain functions and can have lasting effects onthe individual’s mood and thoughts. People who have abused hydrocodone are more likely to suffer from insomnia, liver or kidney disease, depression, and anxiety. Some mental disorders can be treated, but the damage done to the liver and kidneys is difficult to reverse or treat.
How Does Hydrocodone Addiction Happen?
Hydrocodone, like other opioids, binds to the pain receptors in the brain. As the drug binds to the receptors, pain signals are weakened or blocked entirely. These receptors are responsible for the positive reinforcement of drug-taking behavior. When a person takes hydrocodone, feel-good sensations, or a state of “euphoria” is felt and encourages the person to take the drug again.
Once hydrocodone has been taken for an extended period of time or in excessive amounts, the body builds up a tolerance. After that, tolerance is developed; to feel those same effects, individuals need to take a higher dose and often more frequently, thus the addiction.Addiction is diagnosed on a spectrum, anywhere from mild to moderate to severe. Signs of hydrocodone addiction include taking more than intended and prioritizing drug use over responsibilities. Drug rehab centers in Florida provide counseling and therapy tailored to the needs of the addict.
Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment and Detox in Florida
The very first step in treating hydrocodone addiction is medicallysupervised detox. Drug detox is the process of clearing the drugs present in the body and can be performed in an outpatient or inpatient facility. Drug detox programsin Florida monitor the person to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible during the process and help them manage their withdrawal symptoms as best they can. Withdrawal symptoms can appear within a few hours of the last dose of hydrocodone and can include muscle aches, runny nose, excessive tearing, nausea, and abdominal cramps, sweating, chills, goosebumps, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, irregular heart rate, difficulties concentrating, anxiety, irritability, headaches, restlessness, mood swings, trouble feeling pleasure, depression, agitation, night sweats, fatigue, high blood pressure, drug cravings and thoughts of suicide.
Following detox completion, a recovering addict should enter anaddiction recovery program in Florida. There is a multitude of different programs available. The typical programs offered in the state of Florida are residential treatment (short-term or long-term), hospital-based residential treatment, partial hospitalization (step down from residential treatment but more intense than outpatient care), outpatient care, and extended care.
A residential drug rehab program in Florida is when the person resides at a facility and completes their therapies there. It is more intense and usually produces the best result forrecovery success rates because it allows people to focus solely on their recovery, absent any temptations or distractions. A hospital-based residential program has the same ideology as a residential program; however, it is conducted in a hospital-based setting. A partial hospitalization program is a program that is still carried out in a hospital setting, but it is not as intense as a full-time residential program or a hospital-based residential treatment program; it lies between those residential programs and an outpatient program.
An outpatient program is when the person does not reside at the facility but visits a facility or program to receive their treatment. This type of treatment is ideal for those who are highly motivated to seek the help they need but who cannot reside at a facility due to previous commitments or responsibilities.
There can be an array of different therapy types provided at any of the therapy programs listed above. Each program is individualized and can include therapy (individual or group), group recovery meetings (similar to a 12-step program and are member-led), wellness treatments (yoga, massage, fitness classes, chiropractic), animal-assisted therapy, and expressive therapy (classes in the arts to work through feelings).
Once a treatment program is complete, some of the most common types of aftercare are sober living homes, ongoing individual therapy, group therapy meetings, and group recovery meetings.Drug detox, drug rehab, and aftercare in Florida should not only focus on the physical well-being of a recovering addict but also the spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being.
Family Intervention for Hydrocodone Addiction in Florida
Family intervention is meant to be a non-confrontational way of addressing a loved one’s drug addiction head-on. The process is designed to help them see the destruction that their addiction has on their life and the lives of loved ones.Family intervention helps the addict accept the help they need and to layout consequences if they refuse the help. Interventions, however, can be very emotional and complex meetings, but with the help of an interventionist, it can be done successfully.
Hiring a family interventionist in Florida has many benefits, before and during the intervention. Benefits of hiring professional interventionists include training and experience. A certified interventionist is a trained professional who knows how to handle any situation during an intervention. A family interventionist helps the family understand what addiction is and how it impacts the family dynamic. In addition, family interventionists in Florida are connected to the many different drug rehab centers in the state. Finally, a family interventionist understands the dangers of hydrocodone withdrawal and helps with escorting the addict to treatment.
