Does Hydrocodone Get You High? The Risks Of Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse and overdoses are far more common than those for illegal drugs and are responsible for more deaths. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [2], from 1999 to 2019, nearly 500,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids. Like any opioid pain medication, hydrocodone can be addictive, and some individuals build a tolerance for it. This means that the person takes larger doses of this drug or does so compulsively without stopping.

Does hydrocodone get you high? and what are the other risks? Physical dependence means the person will experience opioid withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medication. This can be dangerous because hydrocodone can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common.

Does Hydrocodone Get You High?

Since 2004, hydrocodone has been the most commonly prescribed drug in the United States and is often misused as a drug of abuse. [3] Hydrocodone is frequently encountered in the postmortem setting, both as a cause of death and incidentally. Unfortunately, information regarding the concentrations of hydrocodone found with chronic high-dose use is lacking, and interpretation of postmortem concentrations can be difficult. Does hydrocodone get you high? When it is abused, it produces a feeling of euphoria or “high.” Knowing the signs of a “hydrocodone high” may help you to distinguish the symptoms of opioid abuse and seek proper opioid addiction treatment. 

Does hydrocodone get you high? A “hydrocodone high” may look different in different people, but most people have one common effect. Opiates can make people have a false sense of euphoria. if someone is high on hydrocodone, you may also notice the following symptoms:

What Does Hydrocodone Make You Feel Like?

Does hydrocodone get you high? Due in part to the sensations of euphoria that frequently accompany the pain alleviation, hydrocodone users are put at a high risk for developing tolerance, addiction, and dependency when taken long-term or in excessive doses. Other short-term, desirable effects of hydrocodone include:

• Increased sense of well-being
• Numbness
• Feeling sleepy or sluggish
• Reduced worry and stress

How Much Hydrocodone Gets You High?

Hydrocodone, like most other opioids, induces euphoria, an extreme sense of well-being. Hydrocodone binds to specific receptors in the brain. Although opioid drugs like hydrocodone are used primarily to treat pain, some of the central nervous system processes that reduce pain perception also produce a state of well-being. So when hydrocodone causes the neurotransmitters which control movement, moods, and physiology to fire at high rates (as high as they would fire in times of extreme stress), the body and mind experience both pain relief and an uplift in mood simultaneously. Because hydrocodone is considered “morphine-like” in every aspect, it is easy to see why the use and abuse of hydrocodone are possible.

Hydrocodone Abuse and Addiction 

Hydrocodone or hydrocodone-containing drugs are sold under many brand names, including Vicodin, Lortab, and Norco. Many opioid painkillers are a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen—a drug that, when abused, can cause severe liver damage. Abuse occurs whenever you use the medication in a manner other than that recommended by a doctor. If you take a larger dose of hydrocodone than prescribed, take it for a more extended period than recommended, or take it more often throughout the day than directed, you are abusing hydrocodone. You will most likely experience hydrocodone side effects.

Hydrocodone Side Effects

People who develop a tolerance to hydrocodone need to take larger doses of the drug or take it more often to experience the same positive effects. Does hydrocodone make you feel high? In seeking a more significant “high” or to overcome the effects of tolerance, abusers may take large doses of hydrocodone to place themselves in danger of an overdose.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

Can You Inject Hydrocodone?

Nonmedical use and abuse of prescription opioids such as hydrocodone is an increasing public health problem. Intravenous (IV) administration of opioid analgesics intended for oral use is not uncommon, yet little is known about the relative abuse potential of these drugs when administered intravenously to recreational opioid abusers without physical dependence. Can you inject hydrocodone? Intravenous injection rapidly delivers hydrocodone to the bloodstream, central nervous system, and brain. Does hydrocodone get you high? It gets you high quickly but poses severe health risks and side effects.

Do People Snort Vicodin?

Can hydrocodone get you high? Snorting Vicodin delivers a high amount of hydrocodone to the brain very fast. Can Vicodin get you high? Snorting is a new route of hydrocodone abuse, which results in a rapid onset of effects, causing almost immediate pain relief and euphoria. But when the drug is snorted, there is a much greater risk of toxic effects, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis causing respiratory failure. [4]

Hydrocodone Abuse Symptoms 

The most common symptoms of hydrocodone abuse include the following:

How Much Hydrocodone Will Kill You?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information: [5]

• The average hydrocodone concentration in the cases where the hydrocodone caused death was 0.47 mg/L (median, 0.38 mg/L)
• The average hydrocodone concentration in cases where it was incidental to death was 0.15 mg/L (median, 0.08 mg/L)
• The average hydrocodone concentration in the DUI cases was 0.09 mg/L (median, 0.08 mg/L)

An overdose occurs when someone takes more than the average or recommended amount of this medicine. This can be by accident or on purpose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Opioid Overdose Crisis

The opioid crisis began In the late 1990s when pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at more excellent rates. This subsequently led to widespread recreation and abuse of these medications before it became clear that they could be highly addictive. Opioid overdose rates began to increase. In 2017, more than 47,000 Americans died from opioid overdose, including prescription opioids, heroin, and illicitly manufactured fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. That same year, an estimated 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers. [6]

Opioid Addiction Treatment 

Searching for “Does hydrocodone make you feel high?” Are you suspecting a loved one struggling with substance abuse to the drug? If you think a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction like the painkiller hydrocodone, you should first research the drug and associated addiction to better understand what your loved one needs. Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle their addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During the intervention services, offer compassion and support instead of judgment. Show your support throughout the entire opioid addiction treatment process.

Moreover, prolonged hydrocodone abuse can have severe physical and psychological effects, so it is essential to seek opioid addiction treatment as soon as possible. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of opioid withdrawal. 

Medically-Assisted Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated withdrawal process but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient drug rehab helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy 

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with opioid addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – An effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression. Cognitive behavior therapy has been evaluated as particularly effective for treating opioid addiction and co-occurring disorders of depression and anxiety.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – A comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – A strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.
• Solution-Focused Therapy – An approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in a mental health disorder and substance abuse. Dual diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system.

Medication-Assisted Treatments