Norco is an effective pain medication, but it can also cause extremely dangerous results when abused, the most serious of which is often addiction. If you or someone you love has been misusing this medication and needs help, call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now to find safe, professional treatment that caters to your needs.

What Is Norco?

Norco is a brand name, combination drug that contains both hydrocodone (an opioid) and acetaminophen. These two drugs when used together are extremely effective in treating moderate to severe pain, but unfortunately, they can also cause addiction and other serious side effects when the drug is abused. Hydrocodone is a habit-forming drug, according to the National Library of Medicine, and when taken in larger doses by those hoping to experience the opioid’s euphoric effects, it can cause drug-seeking behavior and other dangerous results.

Hydrocodone is one of the most frequently diverted and abused opioid drugs on the market, but it is also the “most frequently prescribed opioid in the United States” (Drug Enforcement Administration). As such, its misuse is a serious problem that often needs to be treated in a professional rehab center.

Recognizing Norco Addiction

If you have been using Norco in a way other than prescribed by a doctor, you are at risk of an addiction. This means

• Taking the drug in higher doses than prescribed
• Taking the drug more often than prescribed
• Taking the drug a different way than prescribed (ex. Crushing and snorting it)
• Taking the drug for longer than prescribed
• Taking the drug without a prescription

Anyone who misuses an opioid-based drug in one of these ways frequently and consistently is likely to become addicted. If you are still unsure if your substance abuse has become a full-blown addiction, ask yourself the questions below to find out.

Experiencing emotional issues due to Norco abuse is a sign of addiction.

• Do you use Norco every day in order to get high?
• Have you noticed you no longer experience the same effects you used to when you take the same amount of the drug?
• When you are unable to take the medication, do you experience withdrawal effects?
• Have your friends and/or family members expressed their concern about your Norco abuse?
• Have you ever become hostile with those who do bring up your substance abuse in a negative light?
• Have you considered moving on to another, more intense type of opioid drug in order to combat tolerance or have you already done so?
• Have you ever put yourself or someone else in danger in order to obtain or use more of the drug?
• Have you experienced issues in your professional life because of your substance abuse like getting fired or getting reprimanded at work?
• Have you experienced legal or financial issues because of your substance abuse?
• Have you experienced any psychological or physical side effects of your substance abuse, including
  • Depression or anxiety?
  • Chronic constipation?
  • Hearing loss?
• Do you worry that you would not be able to stop using Norco on your own, even if you wanted to?
• Have you ever overdosed on Norco?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a possibility that your body is already addicted to the drug and that you will need intensive, professional treatment in order to put an end to your substance abuse. Norco is a highly addictive drug, and those who abuse it consistently put themselves in danger of becoming addicted.

Norco Withdrawal

Being dependent on Norco isn’t always a surefire sign of addiction. Some individuals become dependent on opioids after taking them for a long time as recommended by a doctor (NLM). However, someone who has been abusing this drug regularly will often become dependent as well as addicted and experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Agitation
• Muscle, joint, and bone pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Chills
• Hot flashes
• Sweating
• Insomnia

Many people believe they just have the flu when going through opioid withdrawal, but if you have been misusing your or someone else’s Norco prescription, it is likely that you are experiencing this dangerous condition. Though not usually life-threatening, opioid withdrawal can be incredibly painful. This is one of the main reasons why addicts should not attempt to stop abusing a drug on their own and instead should seek professional help from a rehab center. Opioid withdrawal is very uncomfortable and can quickly lead a person to relapse.

It’s Just Norco, It’s Not an Addiction. Is It?

Norco Addiction Treatment Options

Treatment for Norco addiction must take place in a professional rehab center. Because this drug is so easily available, someone who has become addicted to it will need professional care and help adjusting to a life in recovery. There are several different types of rehab programs available for Norco addicts.

• Inpatient centers: Inpatient centers offer 24-hour care to patients in a controlled environment. This isn’t always a necessary option for those in opioid addiction recovery, but it can be a beneficial choice if you are suffering from a more severe addiction or additional issues like
  • A co-occurring disorder
  • A lack of social support at home
  • A dangerous home environment that is not conducive to recovery
• Outpatient centers: Most individuals recovering from opioid addiction choose outpatient treatment, although you must be careful to ensure the program will offer all the options you require, as some outpatient centers offer little in the way of care (National Institute on Drug Abuse).
• Methadone maintenance centers: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is a type of comprehensive rehab program that offers patients medication as well as other treatment options. Individuals who choose this option will need to visit their clinic every day in order to receive their daily dose of methadone.
• Luxury rehab centers: Some facilities provide more high-end treatment options and accommodations to those who can afford to pay for it. These facilities often provide gourmet meals, spa treatments, and other creature comforts to make recovery a more relaxing experience.

Treatment for opioid addiction usually involves a combination of medications and behavioral therapies no matter what type of rehab program you choose. The healthcare providers at the facility will help you build a treatment program that suits your needs and utilizes the methods that will help you recover as safely and effectively as possible.

The commonly used treatment options for opioid addiction include

• Behavioral therapies: Behavioral therapies can help patients “modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use” (NIDA). They can also help individuals explore the reasons why they began using drugs in the first place as well as learn life skills for the future that can help patients live a healthier life and avoid relapse. Commonly used behavioral therapies include
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Contingency management
  • Motivational enhancement therapy
  • Family therapy
  • 12-step facilitation therapy
• Medications: In opioid addiction treatment, medications are used to help stabilize the patient as well as to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. The commonly used medications in opioid addiction rehab include
  • Methadone, which can be used as a maintenance drug to help patients become more stable in their daily lives and avoid relapse
  • Buprenorphine, which is also an effective maintenance drug that is safer in an abuse situation than methadone but not as effective as methadone in treating individuals with severe addiction syndromes
  • Naltrexone, which precipitates withdrawal in those who relapse and can be effective for highly motivated individuals who do not want to return to substance abuse

Treatment for Norco addiction usually involves a number of evidence-based practices that will suit the individual patient’s needs. This is why the program needs to be different for everyone. If you are unsure as to which type of rehab center or treatment program will be best for your recovery, call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now and let us help you choose the best options for your needs.

Do I REALLY Need Norco Rehab?

If you are suffering from an addiction, you will need rehab in order to recover safely and effectively. Because Norco contains hydrocodone, the longer and the more you continue to abuse it, the more it will affect the way you think and act. According to the NIDA, drug abuse begins as a voluntary act, but over time, it changes the way your brain works so that you will crave the drug above all else. When this happens, it is nearly impossible to stop abusing drugs on your own, and many times, it will only lead to more serious side effects like

• Overdose
  • An opioid overdose can be deadly, and acetaminophen can also cause dangerous side effects that can be life threatening (NLM). Because Norco contains both these drugs, a person who overdoses on it might experience
    • Slowed or stopped breathing
    • Coma
    • Liver failure
    • Seizures
• The abuse of other, more dangerous drugs
  • Many individuals who start out abusing prescription drugs later turn to heroin because it is cheaper and easier to get than the former substances. Abusing heroin can make an individual vulnerable to a host of other problems such as abscesses, collapsed veins, and contracting HIV and other transmittable diseases.
• Relapse
  • Addicts who attempt to recover from an opioid addiction on their own often do not realize the severity of their condition. They may try to weather their withdrawal symptoms without medication and proper treatment, and while some are successful, many relapse back to substance abuse. This often leads to overdose because the individual will usually take the same amount they are used to with a much lower tolerance.
  • Even those who make it through withdrawal are still vulnerable to relapse because they have not received the proper lessons one learns in rehab about living in recovery.

Therefore, Norco rehab is necessary when someone becomes addicted to the drug. But it is never too early––or too late––to seek help for a substance use disorder.

How Long Will Treatment Last?

Leaving treatment too early can lead to relapse.

Every individual’s treatment program is different, and depending on your needs, your treatment may last as little as a month or as long as a year or more. The common treatment lengths include

• 28 to 30 days
• 60 days
• 90 days
• 6 months
• 1 year
• 1 year+

In general, 90 days is considered the minimum amount of time an effective treatment program should last. Some of the programs offering shorter times make up for it by helping patients transition into an aftercare program once treatment has ended. Methadone maintenance programs require patients to stay on their medication for a full year before considering being weaned off the drug.

Finding Norco Rehab Centers

We want to help you find the treatment program that will best suit your needs so you can safely recover from your addiction and start living a healthy, drug-free life. Call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? now, and our treatment advisors will

• Match you with safe, reliable rehab centers that will fit your situation
• Help you find programs that will accept your insurance plan
• Provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about the recovery program of your choice
• Help you build a step-by-step plan that starts today and ends with your first day in treatment

We know finding the right option for your recovery is difficult, so let us help you narrow down your search and match you with the best rehab centers available for your treatment.

What Happens After Rehab?

After rehab, many people choose to attend aftercare or another treatment program altogether. This is often necessary because a stable recovery takes time and work, and in many cases, multiple treatment programs. But once you leave your rehab center, you will need to implement practices into your daily life to help you avoid relapse and stay healthy.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Hope… is the foundation of recovery.” You can build a strong sense of hope and self-esteem during treatment but also by taking care of yourself after the program ends, reaching out to your loved ones, and working hard to maintain your sober lifestyle.

Let Us Help You Find Treatment

Overcoming Norco addiction requires treatment in a rehab center that offers the care and guidance that will suit your current needs. Call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? today to be matched with programs that will allow you to build a new life for yourself, one free of opioid abuse.