LGBT Vicodin Addiction

Among those in the LGBT community, Vicodin addiction stems from both personal use and social circulation. In fact, among the general population, Vicodin has become one of the most highly abused prescription opiates on the market today. Psychological factors can also contribute to high levels of use, as Vicodin use can provide escape from pressures LGBT individuals face, creating feelings of well-being, confidence and calm in the wake of judgment, ostracization and depression. Fortunately, many prescription drug rehabilitation programs have experience in treating LGBT individuals with Vicodin addictions, providing compassionate care to break the physical and psychological addiction to the prescription painkiller.

Physical Aspects of LGBT Vicodin Addiction

A combination of the codeine-derived hydrocodone and over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen, Vicodin produces sensations of relaxation and euphoria in users, in addition to its analgesic effects. Vicodin blocks pain by acting on opioid receptors in the body, and also interacts with neurochemicals the brain naturally produces to create feelings of happiness and calm. Over time, users experience increased tolerance to the opiate, leading to doses that increase in number and strength in an effort to achieve the increasingly elusive high. Users begin to only feel “normal” when Vicodin is active in the body, feeling lowered ability to tolerate pain, mood swings, and physical maladies when the drug exits the system. As a result, many Vicodin users begin to feel withdrawal symptoms and cravings when they make attempts to detoxify from the drug alone.

Psychological Aspects of LGBT Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin also affects the brain’s pleasure centers, leading LGBT individuals to associate Vicodin with pleasurable feelings. Additionally, the appearance of withdrawal symptoms and cravings and their cessation upon further Vicodin use leads to reinforcement of addiction as well. Many LGBT individuals find Vicodin’s sedating effects also put them at ease in social settings – particularly those in which they may encounter prejudice, negative stereotyping or condescension. Prior instances of verbal, physical, emotional or sexual violence – much of which occurs towards LGBT individuals at an alarmingly high rate due to their sexual orientation – may also create an impetus for drug use, as individuals desire to escape traumatic memories of assaultive behavior.

The Right LGBT Vicodin Addiction Treatment

Whether you have used Vicodin recreationally, or found yourself losing control over usage levels after receiving a physician’s prescription, drug addiction treatment can help you re-achieve sobriety in a safe, confidential atmosphere. With a knowledge of some of the country’s finest LGBT-friendly residential drug treatment programs that foster self-acceptance and sobriety, our addiction specialists welcome your phone call. We invite you to call, free of charge, to learn more about LGBT Vicodin addiction treatment programs available to you.