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VICODIN THE FACTS
" Eminem got strung out on vicodin and so did Courtney Love, also rumor has it that Michael Jackson, Melanie Griffith, and Foxy Brown have had problems with it."As/per "www.nida.nih.gov" Meet Vicodin®, a drug that blends a synthetic narcotic, hydrocodone bitartrate, with acetaminophen in a single package that's more potent (and potentially way more dangerous) than either taken separately. A main reason why: Vicodin can hook a user in as few as seven days.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
In its most common form it is a white, scored, oblong tablet, imprinted with "Vicodin," "Vicodin ES," or "Vicodin HP," depending on dose. Other forms include capsules and a liquid sold under such trade names as Hycodan®, Lorcet®, Lortab®, Tussionex®, and Tylox®.
STREET NAMES:
Vike and Watson–387, the imprint on the generic pill.
EFFECTS:
Vicodin is chemically similar to heroin and travels the same neurological pathways to block the perception of pain. Vicodin also increases the activity of another neurotransmitter, dopamine, triggering such an intense euphoria that users keep coming back for more-and still more, after that.
Vicodin can cause dizziness and induce sleep, while impairing motor skills. Other common side effects include dry mouth, nausea, constipation, and increased perspiration. Overdoses involving Vicodin can be life-threatening, especially if used with alcohol or other depressant drugs. Overdose symptoms include constricted pupils, confusion, slowed breathing, and unconsciousness. Long-term use of acetaminophen is also linked to an increased risk of liver damage or failure.
MEDICAL USES:
Vicodin is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain, usually associated with cancer, surgery, or serious injury.
ADDICTION POTENEIAL:
The risk of both physical and psychological dependence on Vicodin is high. Users may experience withdrawal symptoms after as few as 5-7 days of continuous use. Withdrawal symptoms include chills, irritability, severe anxiety, headaches, and insomnia.
TRENDS:
Vicodin use has soared in recent years, partly fueled by the fame of its star user base. The number of 12-17 year-old users jumped 127 percent between 1996 and 2000, according to one national survey.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Vicodin and other prescription narcotics constitute the most-abused group of prescription drugs, according to the National Household Survey, released in 2001. Of the four million Americans who reported misusing prescription drugs the previous year, nearly 65 percent misused prescription pain relievers.
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