Every day, an average of 115 Americans die from opiate overdose [2].
Nearly half of opiate-related drug overdoses in the United States are due to legal, prescription pain medications — including Vicodin.
Vicodin is a combination of the opiate hydrocodone, with the non-opiate pain0killer acetaminophen (Tylenol). It’s used as a pain-treatment for those with moderate to severe pain, as well as those with chronic pain.
Recent reports from The American Society of Addiction Medicine reported that 4 out of every 5 new heroin users started out using prescription medications like Vicodin first.
It happens as a result of the prescription drugs perceived sense of safety — “it’s legal so it must be safe… right”?
Vicodin isn’t a threat in short-term applications. In fact, it’s very useful for improving the quality of life for those suffering from moderate to severe pain. Long-term use, however, leads to increased tolerance to the drug, forcing users to increase the dose to achieve the same results.
After a while, the body becomes hooked on the effects of the drug, and users begin taking it just to avoid the pain experienced by not taking the drug. Over time, Vicodin becomes ineffective, and users seek out stronger opiate to satisfy their cravings.
This often leads them to far more serious opiates like heroin or fentanyl.