Why would someone break say...hydrocodones in half before taking them?
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Ok, first off, if the guy had a neck fusion and is actually prescribed hydrocodone, then he has a legal prescription for that medication. There is a HUGE difference between having an addiction to prescription medications, and having a tolerance to them. In addition, there are varying dosages of hydrocodone - something that most people are ignorant of. Hydro comes in doses of 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg and compounded variations containing 15mg. All of those doses contain varying amounts of acetaminophen (otherwise known as Tyelnol). What may have happened is that this gentleman normally takes a higher prescription dosage than the hydro that you had on hand, and knew that what you had wouldn't work for him unless he took several. I know that I have had to do that once in a very great while, since I have a prescription for 10mg hydro - since I normally don't take it too often, I don't carry it with me normally, so if I go out of town, and my back spasms, then I'm usually SOL unless someone happens to have the same 'script around. Usually people have the equivalent of vicodin, which is 5mg of hydro - so I end up having to take at least 2, usually 3, of these, for them to do anything for me. It's just how it is. I've been a chronic pain patient for ten years now, so I know how it is. Don't be so quick to judge until you know the whole story.
As for why the gentleman may have broken them up, it could have been several reasons: A semi misguided attempt at wanting the medication to take effect quicker or it could have been that he can't swallow pills whole so needs to break them in half.
If the man really had any sort of huge, nasty problem, he'd be attempting to do a cold water extraction in your bathroom. Frankly, three pills is no big thing. Now, if he'd tried stealing your entire bottle, or some such thing, then there might be an indication that he's got bad probs.
breaking in half causes the codeine to enter the system quicker.
if he had an injury that requires him to take medicine, then chances are that he has become dependent of them. i don't blame you, i wouldn't want that in my life either
Typically, one breaks a tablet in half because half a tablet is sufficient medication for the condition at the time. For some medications, this is not appropriate, as the timed-release mechanism may get messed up. I have no idea what the BF's situation might be.
By breaking them it sounds like he was wanting them to get into his system faster. Also someone who don't normally take them, would not have taken all of them at once. So yes I would say that this guy is an opiate addict. Now that does NOT mean that he is living some kind of junky life style. He may still live a normal everyday life, or he may really take them for pain and got addicted to them in a legit way. Just don't judge him before you know his situation. Vicodin addiction, in my opinion is not like any other addiction, most people who are addicted to them are productive members of society.
Also you say that you don't want that sort of lifestyle around, I think people could label you just as easy, you gave a man prescription meds, that is against the law.
I want to add that the reason I have said all of this is because I am a recovering Vicodin addict, I did not get addicted to them because I was searching for a high, I got addicted ( dependant ) because of chronic back pain. And when you said that he broke them in half, it reminded me of myself. I would go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning in mild withdrawl ( everyday ) so that is what I would do. I would break my pills in half, trying to get them in me faster.
But who knows this man may really have chronic pain and he may have his own prescription of vicodin and yours might not have been strong enough for what he is used to and that may be why he had to take all three pills.
Just don't be quick to judge this man, you have no idea of what is going on with him just by seeing him take a few pills.
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