What is Hydrocodone?

 
 
 
 
   
 

What is Hydrocodone?

  • Hydrocodone is the most widely used opiate-based painkiller
  • Prescribed for moderate-to-severe pain, diarrhea, coughs
  • Made from the three opium poppy extracts
  • Referred to as opioids or opiates

Who uses Hydrocodone?

  • Currently, an estimated 4.6 million Americans use prescription opiates/opiods illicitly every month
    • Compared with 136,000 to 800,000 heroin abusers

Street Names

  • Vike, Vic, Watson 387

Routes of Administration

  • Oral ingestion
  • Injection
  • Snorting

Physical Side Effects

  • Slowed brain activity
  • Appetite depression
  • Slower reaction times
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Insensitivity to pain
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Lowered pulse and respiration rate
  • Confusion
  • Sudden hearing loss
  • Tolerance to pain is increased

Signs & Symptoms of Use

  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Dry skin
  • Slowed respiration
  • Lethargic, drowsiness
  • Reduced vision
  • Shallow breathing
  • Needle or track marks on inner arms or other parts of the body
  • Excessive perspiration
  • Shaking
  • Vomiting
  • Chills
  • Eyelids droop
  • Head nods forward
  • Speech is slurred, slowed and raspy or hoarse
  • Coordination is slowed

References

  • Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs (Paperback), 6th edition, by Darryl Inaba& William E. Cohen

If you or anyone you know suffers from these symptoms, please get help now by clicking on the following GET HELP NOW BUTTON.