Addiction to prescription drugs like OxyContin, hydrocodone, Percocet, Lortab, Fentanyl and others is on the rise in the United States. One of the reasons why prescription drug addiction is such a large problem is because of the crimes that are often associated with the disease. In order to maintain prescription drug addiction, addicts cost the insurance industry about $72.5 billion every year, according to the 2009 Drug Threat Assessment report. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that deaths that involved painkillers increased by 66 percent between 2001 and 2005.

Every year, prescription drug addiction increases unlike any other illegal drug.

Common Crimes Associated with Prescription Drug Addiction

The most common crimes associated with prescription drug addiction are doctor shopping to procure duplicate prescriptions, outright fraud where prescription pads are stolen and fake prescriptions are written and filled, and pharmacy robberies. “Pharm parties” are common among high school and college aged students as well: each person brings whatever prescription painkillers they have left over from their own (or their parents’) prescriptions and shares with everyone else. Still others try to get the prescription painkillers they are craving by going to the emergency room and faking injuries.

No matter how they are obtained, taking these pills without medical supervision can be deadly. Those same emergency rooms where many prescription pill addicts feign pain in order to get drugs fraudulently report that the number of true admissions related to prescription drug overdose or abuse rise every year.

Private Versus Public - The New Crimes Associated with Prescription Drug Addiction

There have been a number of cases in the media over the past couple of years where the courts have brought charges against those who gave their prescription meds to friends or family members when the person receiving the medication ultimately died using those drugs. In each case, no matter the age of the person on trial (in many cases, they were teenagers), it was ultimately decided that jail time was appropriate. With charges that include involuntary manslaughter, the court is making their position clear: only you should be taking your prescription medications.

Prescription Drug Addiction Crime

Using prescription drugs non-medically is a crime in and of itself. The problem with the other crimes associated with the maintenance of prescription drug addiction is that they will only serve to increase the consequences when you finally get caught. When those crimes turn violent-someone dies accidentally or gets hurt while you are performing the crime-drug court and court ordered drug addiction treatment is no longer an option.

Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is addicted to prescription drugs of any kind including sleep medications, anti-anxiety medication or opiate painkillers, don’t wait until your cravings have reached such a crescendo that you are forced into criminal acts to get the pills you need. Call Michael’s House at 1-877-345-8494 instead. We can help you stop using prescription pills before they stop you. Call now.

Painkillers, especially opiate painkillers, are extremely addictive. It doesn’t matter who you are: if you take prescription medications like OxyContin, hydrocodone, Xanax, Vicodin, Fentanyl or codeine, you will build up a tolerance to the drug, requiring more and more to achieve the initial pain killing effects. This physical tolerance is one of the characteristics of prescription painkiller addiction and once it sets  in, you will need a medical detox to break its hold.

There are a number of reasons that people become addiction to prescription painkillers, but high on the list is the attempt to self-medicate emotional pain. The emotional reasons we abuse drugs and alcohol can be broken down into four different categories:

• Inability to handle pain
• Feelings of unworthiness
• Need for approval from others
• Need for control

Emotional Painkiller Addiction: Inability to Handle Pain

As a child, it is normal to feel overwhelmed by emotional pain, experiencing feelings like helplessness and loneliness. However, as an adult, it is possible to learn to manage these feelings in a healthy way rather than turning to drugs for assistance. Taking a painkiller doesn’t make the feelings or the problem disappear. Instead, when the effects of the drug wears off, the original problem is still there and is now compounded by the issue of prescription drug addiction.

Emotional Painkiller Addiction: Feelings of Unworthiness

Feelings of unworthiness may come from not receiving the affection you needed as a child or the perception that you did not get what you needed from the adults in your life. A very small child may speculate on the cause of this and decide that he or she does not deserve to be loved. The essence of these feelings is shame. Sadly, these feelings can follow us into adulthood and hinder us even if we find a loving spouse and community. Taking painkillers may seem like the only way to feel better about ourselves. Unfortunately, the mechanism of opiate addiction is such that, over time, without the pills, we feel even worse than we did before we started.

Emotional Painkiller Addiction: Needing the Approval of Others

Approval from other people is a core need for most individuals. While wanting and needing recognition is healthy overall, it can be debilitating if too much importance is placed upon the opinions of others. Again, painkillers may seem like the best way to combat obsessing over what other people think of us.

Emotional Painkiller Addiction: Needing Control

The need for control is another reason that a person may turn to painkillers. The fact that life is uncontrollable is scary, but unfortunately, painkiller addiction can become dangerously out of control, too. You may be able to control your mood with the first pill, but the second and third and fourth will control you.

End Painkiller Addiction at Michael’s House

Healing from painkiller addiction is not impossible. At Michael’s House, we know that facing the pain and discomfort can be an unimaginable thought, and we are here to help you every step of the way. At Michael’s House, we have the tools and resources you need to become healthy again, breaking your addiction to painkillers with an painkiller detox and rehab program that is personalized to suit your needs. Call Michael’s House today for more information.

It is a story that, by now, has become familiar to anyone who understands the behavior of prescription drug addicts.   An individual will do anything - sacrficing their relationships or careers - to obtain more Vicodin, OxyContin or other painkillers.

Mary “Kathy” Madill, a 55-year old nurse in a Denver emergency room has been caught forging prescriptions and stealing Fentanyl (a powerful painkiller) from the hospital.

This is a common occurence is the world of prescription drug addiction.  Glamorized to some degree by the TV hit House, medical professionals addicted to painkillers has become a serious problem in the United States.   The unchecked access these individuals have to the medications means that they are likely to be using them in secret over a long period of time before anyone notices.

And with all prescription drug addictions that involve painkillers, the individual develops a tolerance to the drug over time.  That means it will take more and more of the substance to achieve the desired opiate effect - which consequently may lead to overdose or other issues.

As for Ms. Madill, she was suspended and the subsequently fired from her job at St. Anthony Central Hospital.  While it still remains to be seen whether or not the hospital is going to press criminal charges, one can only hope that the former nurse seeks the help she needs from a drug treatment program before it is too late.

After using the prescription painkiller Vicodin for a significant amount of time, the body will become accustomed to having it in their system.  Missing even a single dose of Vicodin can bring about strong withdrawal symptoms until one of two things occur:  either the individual will take another dose of the drug, or they will be able to stop using long enough so that the body has a chance to detoxify (thus bringing the withdrawal symptoms to an end).

How bad are Vicodin Withdrawal Symptoms?

The answer to this question depends on the seriousness of the individual’s addiction.   Men and women who have been taking large amounts of Vicodin each day, over a long period of time, are likely to experience very strong withdrawal symptoms when they quit or miss a dose.  Vicodin, however, is so powerful that even those individuals who have used for a very short period of time may experience moderate withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to quit.

What are the most common Vicodin Withdrawal Symptoms

The following is a list of some of the most common Vicodin withdrawal symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Strong drug cravings
• Chills and sweats
• Sleeplessness
• Restlessness

How long do Withdrawal Symptoms last?

The individual who is suffering from a Vicodin addiction can expect withdrawal symptoms to last several days to two weeks.   The onset of these symptoms usually takes place 24-48 hours after the last dose of the medication.

Getting help for a Vicodin Addiction

If you know someone who is suffering from a prescription drug addiction, specially involving Vicodin, it is important to help them find a qualified drug rehab program as soon as possible.   And if they are going through withdrawal, contact a detox professional who can help maintain their health and safety during this difficult time - lessening the chance of relapse along the way.

Kaye Gibbons, best-selling author, has pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud stemming from her arrest in an incident where she posed as a doctor to receive prescriptions for the painkiller Vicodin.

Gibbons is a well respected American novelist who has seen two of her books, Ellen Foster and A Virtuous Woman become featured selections on Oprah’s Book Club.  She also suffers from bi-polar disorder - a condition that has plagued her for most of her adult life.

The incident with the illicit Vicodin occurred when the 48-year old author submitted prescription online as if she was a physician, then went to her local North Carolina pharmacy to pick them up.

This incident draws attention to lengths addicted individuals will go to in order to obtain more Vicodin.    It is the extreme extension of a number of illegal or unethical practices that include forging prescriptions and “doctor shopping” - wherein the individual will visit a number of different doctors and feign injury in the hope of obtaining more Vicodin under false pretenses.

Make no mistake, Vicodin addiction has the power to destroy lives.   If you or someone you know has become addicted to Vicodin, as is unable to stop, it is important to get them into a qualified drug rehab program as quickly as possible.

Recently, an individual with a Vicodin addiction relayed the following harrowing story about his experience trying to buy Vicodin online via an Internet pharmacy.

Having purchased Vicodin and OxyContin online in the past, this individual (who will be referred to as “Paul”) had his name and phone number on the call lists of several online drug suppliers.

One day, Paul got a call from one of the companies offering him 90 Vicodin ES for $400 shipped via overnight carrier no questions asked.

It was a lot of money, but Paul needed the pills.  His other online vendor had recently closed up shop and hadn’t been heard from in weeks.

Paul was suspicious, as always, of the “hard sell” attitude of this new pharmacy, but his mind was put as ease when they told him that he could simple pay COD when the medication arrived.  If the package didn’t come, or wasn’t what he wanted when it arrived, he could simply send it back and keep his money.

It seemed to be a no-risk situation, so Paul placed his order.  He was told to expect the package in two days, so he went down to the bank and purchased a cashier’s check for $400.

The days passed and Paul’s order didn’t arrive.  He tried to call the company several times, but was unable to make contact.  He was disappointed, and stressed because his supply of Vicodin would soon run out, but at least he didn’t LOSE any money.

Then, a week later, he got a call from the pharmacy.  They told him that there had been some problems with the FDA and that they could no longer process C.O.D. orders.   The representative told Paul however, that if he was willing to send a wire transfer via Western Union that they could arrange for the package to arrive the next evening.

This event gave Paul pause.    He didn’t have a relationship with this company, and for the most part, once money has gone through a Western Union transfer (especially to the Dominican Republic as the company had requested) there is no way to get it back.  But Paul was almost out of Vicodin, dreading the inevitable withdrawal symptoms when he ran out and willing to take the chance.

He sent the money and immediately could not track down the company.  He was in a panic for two days when the representative finally called him.  They explained that the wrong package was sent out and was being held at an undisclosed location.  There were actually over 300 pills in the order instead of the original 90.   As a way to “make good” on the problem, the rep said that if Paul would wire another $300 to the company he could have ALL the pills at a low price.

Now all kinds of warning bells were going off in Paul’s head.  This had to be a scam, right?  But the customer service rep swore up and down that it was legitimate - and that he SO appreciated the faith he had put in them and that he knew full well how important this medication was to him.

Again yes, once again, Paul trusted them and sent the money.  He had now spent $700 plus the Western Union fees.  He waited for his package the next day.

But the next day came and went and no Vicodin arrived.  Paul called and called but could reach nobody at the company.  He left kind messages and rude messages.  He simply BEGGED for someone to contact him!

Then he received a remarkable call.  An “FBI Agent” called Paul and told him that his package had been confiscated and that he was placing charges.  Paul was terrified.  The agent said he was going to jail.  Then, almost by accident, Paul looked at the phone number on the caller ID.  The area code and prefix seemed so familiar….and then it hit him.  This was a representative of the pharmacy!   They never planned to give him his medication - and this was their out.

Paul began to notice all kinds of holes in the agent’s story.  He couldn’t mention what department he worked for or provide a badge number.  Paul decided to play along for a bit.   Then the “agent” delivered the final insult:  he told Paul that all charges would be dropped if he could send a Western Union of $3,800 to settle his case out of court.  The only other choice was jail.

So not only had these people stolen $700 from him, they had the gaul to run another flimsy scam hoping to prey upon his fear of going to jail and never seeing his family again.

Once Paul had heard enough he hung up. He had lost his money and his dignity and that was enough for one day.

Have you had a similar experience?  Let us know.  And if you’re struggling with Vicodin addiction, contact a drug rehab program in your area and get the help you need today.

TV star Heather Locklear recently became the latest celebrity to be arrested in California for driving under the influence.   But while most other celebrities have been drunk when pulled over, Ms. Locklear was under the influence of prescription medications, specifically Vicodin.

After her arrest, Ms. Locklear issued a statement in which the former heartthrob revealed a longtime Vicodin addiction and other prescription drugs.

Quickly, her mugshot spread across the web, and the nation was once again distracted from more pressing issues by a celebrity up to no good.  Still, the event does produce something positive as it sheds more light on the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

Many young people unfortunately view prescription medications as somehow safer than street drugs, when the truth of the matter is they present just as many potential problems - especially if one tries to operate a vehicle while under their influence.

Now nearing her 50’s, Heather Locklear is likely looking back on certain aspects of her life and wondering “what happened.”  Looking at the now famous mug shot of Locklear after the arrest, we can all learn something about the devastating effects of Vicodin and other opiates.

For help with drug addiction, contact an addiction treatment facility in your area.  These facilities are staffed with kind, caring professionals who can change your life for the better.