Alternative Treatments for Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin addictions continue to plague millions of individuals each year. Vicodin is a semi-synthetic opiate containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen that produces a “high” similar to that of heroin. Although this pain killer legally requires a prescription for use, the drug is often sold on the street or obtained illegally though fraudulent means. The circulation volume of this drug has prompted many treatment professionals to offer alternative treatment options in an effort to advance Vicodin addiction recovery efforts. Research of similar prescription drug addictions show that these addicts are usually unable to cease using the drug on their own.

Standard opiate addiction treatments involve a detox process followed by counseling and therapy options with concentration on behavioral modifications. But sometimes, these treatments do not adequately facilitate full recoveries. Alternative treatments for Vicodin addiction provide other ways to allow for maximized recovery potential with the most effective therapies being pharmacological and behavioral.

Types of treatment for Vicodin Addiction

A common psychotherapy treatment practice is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) which seeks to change the addict’s way of thinking and reacting to stress factors while learning positive life skills that promote sobriety. Addicts may be engaged in workshops and counseling programs that address specific issues regarding their emotions, relationships, and behaviors. Some treatment centers offer different approaches to recovery that are Christian or faith-based, holistic, or, in a private or luxurious setting. Other centers may practice psychotherapy treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which desensitizes emotions, such as those that occur when remembering traumatic experiences, by using a series of rapid, rhythmic eye movements to lessen the memory’s impact. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) uses acupuncture to optimize emotional health and reduce pain and cravings, remove negative emotions, and promote positive goals. Other alternative psychotherapy treatment options may be hypnotherapy, art therapies or yoga therapies.

Pharmacological or replacement drug therapies have been effective for Vicodin addiction recovery through the use of medications such as methadone, suboxone naltrexone, and buprenorphine which act as opioid antagonists that block the effects of the “high” when using an opioid drug . These drugs are effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings while allowing the addict to function normally in life functions such as work and social interactions. These alternative treatments for Vicodin addiction may prove beneficial to addicts who have been unsuccessful in prior recovery efforts.