Hydrocodone Abuse In Appalachia

Hydrocodone is another type of opioid pain killer that that is heavily abused in the Appalachian region. Lortabs and Vicodin are two of the most commonly abused forms of hydrocodone (Aschnerbrenner, pg.24). When combined with other drugs such as acetaminophen, aspirin, phenylephrine, and guaifenesin, hydrocodone is considered to be a schedule III substance, although the F.D, A. (The Food and Drug Administration) is recommending that drugs containing the narcotic hydrocodone be reclassified as schedule II controlled substance (Aschnerbrenner, pg.24). The F.D.A. recommending the drug to be reclassified as a schedule II obviously indicates that the drug is more addictive than everyone thought it would ever be. Hydrocodone is only one of the many prescription drugs that are being abused in the Appalachian region.
The prescription drug alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax also is abused in Appalachia. Alprazolam is an anti- anxiety medication that belongs to a group of drugs called Benzodiazepines, which is best known for acting on the brain and central nerve system to create …show more content…
The most commonly known forms of buprenorphine are Suboxone and Subutex. Buprenorphine is a common opioid drug that is used to treat opioid addiction. It can also be used to treat post-operative pain since it works on your nervous system and in your brain to reduce the way you feel pain. Because of buprenorphine being used for pain after surgery and to help treat people with a narcotic addiction it is one of the easiest drugs for someone to get their hands on. When buprenorphine is used to treat a narcotic addiction it is combined with an ingredient that is called naloxone. The purpose of naloxone is to counter the effects of a buprenorphine overdose. Buprenorphine is considered both a narcotic and a controlled substance. Buprenorphine. Although, the drug problem that we face in Appalachia runs a lot deeper than