Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment

Methadone is one of the medications that may be used in hydrocodone rehab.

According to the DOJ, “Hydrocodone is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the United States.” This means there is a chance for abuse and addiction in those who are prescribed it and those who obtain it illegally. Hydrocodone as a substance is constantly available for misuse.

The treatment for hydrocodone addiction, then, must be helpful and capable of making a significant change in someone who is addicted to hydrocodone. The treatments for hydrocodone addiction are:

Medication

Hydrocodone addiction treatment can usually begin with medically-assisted detox. While this does not treat addiction itself, it does help the person through the flu-like and even painful hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms.

The person may also be maintained on a medication for a certain amount of time applicable to their specific situation. The common medications prescribed to treat hydrocodone addiction are:

• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone
• Methadone

In some cases, certain rehab facilities and treatment centers do not use medication, but it can be extremely helpful and, with stable dosing, will not cause the same effects that hydrocodone abuse does.

Therapy

Therapy, either in one-on-one or group form, is available at nearly every rehab center as it is so helpful with making changes to the behavior of a drug-addicted individual. In therapy treatments, patients learn new ways of coping that are healthier than drug abuse while also discovering ways to fight their current addictions.

Therapy can be a formal program and use a method like cognitive-behavioral therapy or contingency management or it can take place in a support group that is more informal and follows the 12-step (or another similar) method.

Hydrocodone can be obtained illicitly very easily and in many ways, and “long term use can lead to dependence and addiction” (DEA). But knowing the signs and symptoms of addiction and where to seek treatment are the ways to make a difference to change this very problematic trend.