Choosing Inpatient Treatment for Vicodin Addiction for Yourself or a Loved One

According to the Centers for Disease Control, prescription painkiller abuse has become an epidemic in the United States. One of the most common of these painkillers is Vicodin. Vicodin is a mix between Hydrocodone and acetaminophen used to treat chronic pain and temporary pain due to injury or surgery. It is a midrange painkiller and often abused by accident. Many people become addicted to Vicodin simply by taking it as prescribed.

What are the signs of Vicodin addiction?

If you are using the drug recreationally, you may have a Vicodin addiction.

The signs of Vicodin addiction are similar to those of most addictions. If you exhibit any of these signs it might be time to choose an inpatient rehab center for Vicodin addiction. The signs are:

Needing to use more of the drug than is prescribed to achieve the same effect,
Being worried about your Vicodin running out,
Being worried about your next dose of Vicodin,
Wondering if your doctor will continue to prescribe Vicodin for you,
Buying Vicodin illegally so that your doctor does not find out,
Shopping for multiple doctors that will prescribe Vicodin for you,
Trying to stop using it on your own and failing,
Trying to taper off on your own and failing,
Stealing medication from friends or loved ones, and
Doing things that you would not ordinarily do to acquire the drug.

Any of these signs are clear indicators that it is time to choose a rehab center that works for you. Many people who are detoxing from opiates choose inpatient care because of the personal care that you receive.

Is Inpatient Treatment for You?

If you are wondering whether inpatient treatment is for you, it probably is. Inpatient treatment is a residential treatment. Once you arrive at the treatment center you do not leave until you, your doctor, and your counselors agree that you are ready to. If you do leave early, you have to start the program over again. As with any type of treatment, inpatient treatment has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages of inpatient care are:

total treatment all in one place,
you are away from your triggers,
you are away from the places that you ordinarily would use drugs,
most inpatient centers offer 24 hour medical staff,
it is easier to use methadone or Suboxone in an inpatient center,
you do not have to worry about anything other than getting treatment,
all of your treatment is located in one place, and
you are around other addicts who share your problem.

There are disadvantages to inpatient treatment as well as advantages. These disadvantages must be considered before entering inpatient treatment. They are:

it is a very restrictive environment. Once you enter inpatient treatment, you are not supposed to leave it. If you admit yourself voluntarily, you can leave but if you decide to come back, you have to start the program over again.
you have to take time away from school and work. Inpatient treatment lasts a few weeks at a minimum. It can be difficult to take that much time off work, especially if the addiction is affecting your job. This time off can also equal a financial loss for you and your family.
you do not have the support of your family or friends. If you normally rely on your family as a support structure, inpatient care can distance you from that support network.
inpatient treatment can be very expensive particularly if the addiction is very strong.

Inpatient treatment is not for everyone but some people need inpatient treatment to completely recover from their addiction. Some of the circumstances that inpatient treatment might be necessary are:

you have a medical condition that needs to be monitored while you are in treatment for the drug addiction.
you have a mental condition that could cause you to become suicidal or you are suicidal already.
you have tried other methods and always relapse.
you have a lot of triggers in your home environment that you cannot get passed.

What to Look for in an Inpatient Treatment Center?

There are several basic things that you need to look for when you are considering an inpatient facility for Vicodin addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, comprehensive treatment should include:

medication management – doctors should monitor your medications and treat you as conditions arise,
counseling – a large portion of drug rehabilitation is counseling. It is not enough just to get off the Vicodin, you need to find and treat the cause of the addiction. You will also need to address the problems that the addiction created. This is often done in both individual and group counseling sessions.

Although these are the main things that you should address when choosing a Vicodin addiction treatment center, there are a few more basic things that you should take a look at. These are:

cleanliness – since you will be staying at the facility, it should be clean and well kept.
dietary choices – eating at the facility presents the problem of dietary choices. Although one would expect a healthy diet, it is important that they offer choices that are both nutritious and conform to any dietary restrictions that you have.
accepted by your insurance – now many insurance policies cover drug treatment. Checking to make sure yours is accepted at the treatment facility you choose.
staffing – with medical cutbacks it is important to make sure the facility has adequate staffing for your needs.

Choosing an inpatient treatment facility is an important decision. If you need help evaluating or even knowing where to start, call us at, 1-800-994-1867Who Answers?. We can help you decide on the Vicodin addiction treatment center that is right for you.