Drug Abuse Stories

Drug abuse by teenagers is very common, which can lead to disastrous penalty in the future. A large proportion of deaths in people between 15 and 24 are reportedly connected in some way or the other to alcohol or drug abuse. Such abuse also leads to violent criminal acts, such as assault, rape or murder. Some young people also take drugs to overcome anxiety and depression.

If a young member of a family suddenly starts behaving in a aberrant manner or tries to keep aloof from other family members, they definitely have some reasons to be suspicious. Physical signs like nagging cough, red eyes, and changes in eating and sleeping habits should also serve as warning signals. Drug abuse and trafficking has been a large difficulty for a very long time. This difficulty has become worse with the addition of more drugs that can be abused over the years. One of these comparatively newer drugs is hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone comes in various different forms also it is often found as a mixture with acetaminophen. There are several hundred different brand name and generic products, but the most common are Lortab, Vicodin, and Lorcet. There are also a few names for hydrocodone when it is being used unlawfully. These names include Hydro, Vikes, and Norco. These are all hydrocodone containing medicines, and each comes in several different strengths.

Hydrocodone is generally used as an analgesic to treat and moderately severe pain. It is one of the most frequently prescribed opiates in the United States. Probably partly due to this, drug abuse of hydrocodone has been escalating in recent years. In 2006 it was the most frequently abused opioid pharmaceutical submitted as drug abuse. Hydrocodone is a Schedule II drug, but hydrocodone containing products were formerly placed in schedule III and V. When it first came onto the market, it was used mainly as a cough suppressant. However, today it is being used for pain management and is the most frequently prescribed opioid pharmaceutical in the United States.

Hydrocodone is usually abused for its effects as an opiate. It is typically abused in pill form as this is the most frequently prescribed form. Often it is also combined with alcohol in order to increase the effects. Hydrocodone is an opiate just same as any other. Because of this, abuse can lead to dependence, tolerance and addiction. However, because it is usually been used mixing with acetaminophen in its pill form, there is also risk of liver toxicity even this has led to a substantial number of deaths.

Unlike many other drugs, hydrocodone is not produced clandestinely. Most abuse of the drug is accomplished by illegitimate prescriptions or the selling of legal prescriptions. However, the penalties for trafficking in hydrocodone are firm.

For being caught with any amount of a hydrocodone containing product without legitimate reason, people can be imprisoned for up to five years and fined up to $250,000. For a repeat offense, people can be imprisoned for up to ten years and fined up to $500,000. These penalties are even higher if they have any amount of pure hydrocodone.

• John Palsson
• 11/12/2008, 6:59 AM
• 0 Comments