^This is the truth, this is how bad the opiates are.
There are two groups of people spreading misinformation about the opiates: Doctors (AMA) and Addicts. Most addicts are in denial about addiction and exactly how bad what they are taking is. They will tell you that drugs like Vicodin are different than heroin, they are lying.
First, you have to understand, the number of people addicted to these drugs is UNDERESTIMATED by probably 10x or more (probably MUCH more).
Remember that they are all basically morphine. Heroin is morphine acetate. Codeine is a semi-synthetic version of morphine. Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are synthetic version of codeine. Fancy drugs like OxyContin are just time release Oxycodone.
The AMA will actually have you believe that drugs like hydrocodone are LESS addictive than heroin, this is a lie.
Most heroin users start on pain pills. Many heroin users would RATHER use pain pills, but their tolerance is too high or heroin is easier to find.
The irritability you are experiencing is just part of the withdrawal...
This is all very true. Addiction to prescription meds is a HUGE problem. One of the biggest concerns w/ many of the opiate prescription meds is that almost all of them contain Tylenol, and Tylenol is actually very toxic to the liver in elevated doses - and addicts always take elevated doses. This is one of the large problems w/ prescription narcotic addicts. The hydrocodone itself doesn't actually have a lot of negative side effects which is why you do see it prescribed so freely and continuously. Heroin users problems are moreso w/ the fact that they are injecting it and w/ that method comes a whole slew of other issues such as Hepatitis, infections, overdosing d/t inconsistencies in doses, etc.
I am personally sympathic to those addicted to any medications. No one WANTS to be that way. But many times d/t all kinds of various reasons people do need to stay on narcotic medications, and they can do so and lead very normal lives. I'm a proponent of using medications such as Suboxone/Subutex, or Methadone in those unable to get off of narcotic medications. There are ALL kinds of studies that show that Methadone users lead just as normal of lives as do non-narcotic dependant people. They have the same mental fuctioning, same life span, same ability to do the activities of daily living that those not on a narcotic medications are able to do.
Why do they prescribe Methadone and Suboxone - 1) b/c they are just pure opiate w/o the Tylenol, thus you take out the stress on the liver, 2) they are long acting opiates. One of the problems w/ most opiate users is that most of the drugs they are addicted to only have a short window of activity. Thus, your alway having to take something every 4-6 hrs, and your constantly on this roller coaster which effects your daily life. W/ Methadone or Suboxone you only need to take it once/day. Thus those high and lows go away and you are not fluctuating b/w high and withdrawing, which can be miserable way to live, not to mention deadly itself.
To those out there they are addicted I would say, look at your life and weigh the pro's and con's. If you feel like you need to get off your meds, and you in no way would accept the idea of Methadone or Suboxone, then work to slowly decrease your usage. Go from every 4 hrs to every 5. The every 6 hrs, etc. Once you get to only taking it twice a day, then decrease the dosage. This is the best way to slowly detox yourself w/o suffering any serious side effects of withdrawal. Your other option if you have decent insurance is to go in and do a medicated w/drawal w/ a health-care practicioner in the hospital. If you decide to do it yourself at home, follow the above method, and make sure you drink as much water as possible as dehydration and then electrolyte imbalances are common in those w/drawing from narcotics.
Don't just discount the possibility of using Methadone or Suboxone for long term treatment though. If your worried about the stigma attached to Methadone, Suboxone is done w/in the doctors office, and is currently undetectable in any urine/blood screening. Either medication though you will find that w/ any job, being on Methadone or Suboxone is not something that would prohibit you from getting ANY position. I know of several health-care workers who work in the hospital - one who is an anesthesiolgist, that is on Methadone. When you take those pre-job urine/blood tests, you specifically need to test for Methadone which most places do not do. However, if they do 1) you have a valid prescription just as anyone else - just as you had w/ your hydrocodone or any other med, 2) it is not those hiring you who are informed of your urine results (the vast majority of the time) but those associated w/ insurance and human resources. In all my experience w/ addicts, I have never met one who was unable to get a job they desired d/t being on Methadone.
And don't let the stigma that Methadone is just for heroin addicts fool you. There are just as many on Methadone that were addicted to prescription meds as those on heroin. Just like others have said here, there is no difference b/w heroin and codeine and hydrocodone. They are all opiates. They all stimulate the same receptors in the brain. And although you would like to think that heroin addicts are probably on much more Methadone then a prescription opiate addict, that is just totally untrue. I have seen MANY prescription hydrocodone addicts using MORE Methadone then their counterpart heroin addicts - so to believe that you are somehow "better" or "different" then the heroin addict is just a way of fooling yourself.
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