Lortab is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, two different pain drugs and therefore it is a narcotic pain reliever itself. Containing hydrocodone as one of its component, lortab is obviously classified as a moderately addictive substance and is amongst the other 200 hydrocodone products that are also currently on the market. It is a schedule II drug and is only available by prescription from a certified doctor. Lortab works as a pain reliever and is a common choice of doctors when treating moderate to severe pain.
Usually for medical purposes, lortab is available in pill form but when it is abused or misused it is crushed and either snorted or injected. This way of taking lortab gives the user effects similar to heroin, for example, intense feeling of euphoria or being high.
Lortab Addiction Statistics
According to reports from the (NSDUH) National Survey on Drug use and Health, in 2005 around 2.2 million people took prescription pain killers like lortab for recreational or non-medical use. In another survey done by the National Survey of Drug use and Health in 2005-2006, the maximum percentage of individuals abusing or misusing lortab were among 18-25 years old.
Moreover, it is shocking but according to reports most of the addicted patients admitted that they received the drug first time from a friend or a relative for free. Also, the Drug and Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) found in its report of 2004, that out of the 1.3 million drug abuse cases that visited the emergency department, an overwhelming 33% involved opiate based drugs use, such as lortab.
Recognizing Lortab Withdrawal
When a person becomes addicted to lortab, initially the causes of drug addiction and addiction itself can be quite scary and confusing. More than one time, the user keeps on thinking what triggered or began the vicious cycle of addiction and how he got involved in the dark and dangerous world of drug addiction. As addiction makes a person completely useless making him a complete parasite whose only aim in life becomes getting his next fix, he may try to get out of the habit. However, kicking a habit without proper treatment is extremely difficult as dealing with the withdrawal symptoms without help is excruciating both physically and mentally and has the risk of causing a relapse. Withdrawal symptoms include:
• Anxiety
• Severe mood swings
• Aggressive and agitated behavior
• Chronic muscular and body pain
• Diarrhea
• Chills and muscular cramps with spasms
• Severe abdominal pain
• Insomnia
• Dilated pupils
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shivering
• Extreme perspiration
• Hyperactivity
• Loss of appetite
Lortab Addiction Treatment
It is true that kicking a drug habit and beginning a recovery process is not easy and requires strong will power. However, one needs to remember that choosing the right lortab addiction treatment program is the only way to get back to a life of health and happiness. The lortab treatment program consist both inpatient and outpatient treatment option.
If you have a loved one who needs immediate help for the treatment of lortab abuse than we can help you in choosing the best addiction recovery program or drug rehab for your needs. We are available 24/7 to take your call.