I have a daughter who is addicted to Vicoden. She has been taking 10 a day for almost 9 years. I’ve begged her to go to a rehab center but she won’t go. Can this damage her brain or any of her other body organs.
Any and all replies would be appreciated.
-purplepetlaz
Answered by: Maria/MDHealthForum.com Team
Vicodin is one of the medicine brands that has hydrocodone and acetaminophen as active ingredients. Among its common uses is to relieve moderate to severe pain. This medicine is intended only for short-term use. Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic and a cough suppressant. It produces pain relief by binding to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system, this action also causes euphoria and sedation. The ability of hydrocodone to produce a euphoria is the reason why others abuse this drug.
Prolonged use of hydrocodone-acetaminophen combination causes tolerance to its components, the body may eventually require higher doses for pain relief. If this medicine is taken in higher doses, it may cause quite a number of risks like liver damage, respiratory depression and stomach ulcers. People who are suffering from psychological dependence to hydrocodone-acetaminophen pills would find it almost impossible to quit because the long-term use has already affected the brain. It becomes in command of the brain’s motivational system and normal pleasure. They already consider taking this drug as a very important part of their lives. Some would even fake illnesses just to get this drug.
Substance abusers have the tendency to deny the fact that they actually need help. Persuading your daughter to quit could be very difficult. Since substance abusers cannot seek professional help on their own, they could benefit from family intervention. Someone has to initiate the therapy before the condition worsens. Having said that, I think you should consider getting in touch with counselors or substance abuse professionals in your area.
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