Vicodin
addiction is a growing crisis in the
United States. While illegal drugs like cocaine,
marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin remain
in the headlines many individuals may be surprised
to know that Vicodin addiction could lurk right
behind them as one of the most widely-abused
drugs of addiction. In fact, the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration believes Vicodin
may be the most abused prescription drug in
the country. Nationwide, its use has quadrupled
in the last ten years, while emergency room
visits attributed to Vicodin abuse soared 500
percent.
Vicodin® is a narcotic that can produce
a calm, euphoric state similar to heroin or morphine--and
despite such important and obvious benefits in
pain relief, evidence is pointing to chronic
addiction. Pure hydrocodone, the narcotic in
Vicodin, is a Schedule II substance, closely
controlled with restricted use. But very few
prescription drugs are pure hydrocodone. Instead,
small amounts of are mixed with other non-narcotic
ingredients to create medicines like Vicodin
and Lortab. This means they can be classified
under Schedule III with fewer restrictions on
their use and distribution.
Vicodin--one of more than 200 other products
that contain hydrocodone--is regulated by state
and federal law, but it is not controlled as
closely as other powerful painkillers. The lack
of regulation makes them vulnerable to widespread
abuse and addiction through forged prescriptions,
theft, over-prescription, and "doctor shopping." Vicodin
pills have been sold for $2 to $10 per tablet
and $20 to $40 per 8 oz bottle on the street.
Subject to individual tolerance, many medical
experts believe dependence or addiction can occur
within one to four weeks at higher doses of Vicodin.
Published reports of high profile movie stars,
TV personalities and professional athletes who
are recovering from Vicodin addiction are grim
testimony to its debilitating effects.
Vicodin is structurally related to Codeine and
is approximately equal in strength to morphine
in producing opiate-like effects. The first report
that Vicodin produced a noticeable euphoria and
symptoms of addiction was published in 1923;
the first report of Vicodin addiction in the
U.S. was published in 1961.
Every age group has been affected by the relative
ease of Vicodin availability and the perceived
safety of these products by professionals. Sometimes
seen as a "white-collar" addiction, Vicodin abuse
has increased among all ethnic and economic groups.
DAWN data demographics suggest that the most
likely Vicodin abuser is a 20-40 yr old, white,
female, who uses the drug because she is dependent
or trying to commit suicide. However, Vicodin-related
deaths have been reported from every age grouping.
Examples of how severe Vicodin addiction has
become:
- An estimated 7 million dosage units were diverted
in 1994 and over 11 million in 1997.
- In 1998 there were over 56 million new prescriptions written for hydrocodone
products like Vicodin and by 2000 there were over 89 million.
- From 1990 the average consumption nationwide has increased by 300%. In the
same period there has been a 500% increase in the number of Emergency Department
visits attributed to Vicodin abuse with 19,221 visits estimated in 2000.
In 1997, there were over 1.3 million Vicodin tablets seized and analyzed by
the DEA laboratory system.
Source: National Institute on Drug Addiction |
