Are these signs of withdrawal and addiction?

[ss1879]

I've started realizing and accepting lately that I have a drug problem. I'm 16, and I have been taking Vicodin and codeine for the last few weeks. I only took Vicodin and weak codeine pills once a week, as I did not want to get addicted, sometimes two times a week at most. I did look forward to taking these drugs and it would brighten my mood. I have not really told anyone about this as I feel ashamed for taking "harder drugs" at a young age, and I do a good job at hiding it up. I have not taken Vicodin for about three days and I'm not planning on taking it again because the prescription is finished.

Lately I have been grumpy and moody, and have extreme mood swings. In school I flipped out over petty things with friends, and then the next second I am happy like nothing happened. I don't mind being in school, but today I felt miserable for no reason and the day was going by so slow. I am still getting my work done but it is just much harder for me do
it. Even my mom has asked me why I was angry today. I am also starting to worry about many things which have happened long ago, and my mind is going crazy over small things. It might not even be the Vicodin that is the problem, I also started drinking a lot with friends on the weekends which might contribute to my mood change. I used to love smoking weed, and now I do not care to smoke too much which I do not know is a good or bad thing. I also feel like I just have a problem with being sober in general.
I am just very confused and need some input.

 

[David Wooderson]

You are smart for analyzing your negative behavior at 16, I know ppl in their 30s that have yet to realize the trouble they're in. If you give that crap up now you will be so much ahead of most ppl your age that do the same thing. Pills send you down a one way road into a brick wall. Some ppl can scrape up their life in their 20's and 30's but only after burning many bridges and relationships. If I could go back to 16 I would leave that shit to the dummies and focus on my future career. You want to know what gets you higher than anything? A job that pays shit loads of money, a gorgeous wife and a lovely home! Most (99%) of us that played games with our lives don't get that shit at the end of a long battle of addiction. You get sober and stay a slave to money to feed cloth and shelter yourself, no more highs. Take care ss1879

 

[My3sons]

These are signs of potential addiction for sure. However, you shouldn't be physically addicted after only one script and skipping days in between. You definitely learned that you like opiates and could easily have a problem if you continue down this path. Let this be an eye opening learning experience. You know you can't mess with opiates bc you like them too much and if you do you will end up an addict. From here on in stop thinking about them and mive on with your life. You definitely dont want to be an addict and at this point you are still in the drivers seat, so stay there and drive far away from this road.

 

[T. Calderone]

These are signs of potential addiction for sure. However, you shouldn't be physically addicted after only one script and skipping days in between. You definitely learned that you like opiates and could easily have a problem if you continue down this path. Let this be an eye opening learning experience. You know you can't mess with opiates bc you like them too much and if you do you will end up an addict. From here on in stop thinking about them and mive on with your life. You definitely dont want to be an addict and at this point you are still in the drivers seat, so stay there and drive far away from this road.

^ I couldn't have worded this better. Way before I was addicted to opiates, I was once prescribed oxycodone after having a C-section. After I was finished with that, I felt a bit agitated and found myself wishing I had more tablets. Just to take the edge off. So your mood swings could be from coming off the vicoden. You mentioned that you're drinking alcohol as well and generally feeling that you don't like being sober.

In my experience, your mind rationalizes reasons to use a substance. We use to bring ourselves comfort. At some point, it stops numbing the pain and we find ourselves using more and more and trying new things. Eventually this becomes your homeostasis or sense of normalcy and you need that something to get you through. This is how the cycle of addiction takes hold. Take a step back and think about what's happening in your life that's driving you to feel this way.