Dangers Of Cold Water Extraction For Hydrocodone And Codeine

Dangers of Cold Water Extraction for Hydrocodone

What is cold water extraction? Cold water extraction is the process whereby a substance is extracted from a mixture via cold water. It is a type of fractional crystallization. The process generally involves taking a mixture of substances, dissolving them into warm water, and then cooling the mixture. The insoluble compounds precipitate out of the water, while the soluble ones stay dissolved. The solution can then be separated through filtration or decantation.

Cold water extraction (CWE) is one way of modifying a drug for a specific reason. The cold water extraction process is sometimes used to remove aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol, sold under Tylenol) from combination painkiller products containing opioid/opiate drugs like codeine, oxycodone, or hydrocodone. Cold water extraction of codeine and hydrocodone has become popular amongst recreational drug users because it speeds up absorption and reduces hepatotoxicity caused by paracetamol and gastrointestinal irritation caused by aspirin and ibuprofen. 

Cold water extract hydrocodone process exploits the differing solubilities of hydrocodone and paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) at low temperatures. The solubility of paracetamol declines from 14.9 g/L at 25 °C to 7.2 g/L at zero °C, while hydrocodone (depending on the salt) typically has a solubility of 2.49X10+2 mg/L at 25 °C (est). Users attempt to circumvent the potential toxicity associated with paracetamol (acetaminophen) by using “cold water extraction”, a tampering method involving separation and filtration of the paracetamol. This supposedly allows a recreational dose of codeine without paracetamol toxicity.

Short-term, desirable effects of hydrocodone may include:

Some hydrocodone users may experience mild side effects when they take the drug. These symptoms generally decrease as the dose wears off. They may include:

Some of the more severe side effects of hydrocodone require medical care and may include the following:

Hydrocodone Abuse Statistics

Hydrocodone is one of the most frequently prescribed opioids in the United States. More than 136.7 million prescriptions for hydrocodone-containing products were dispensed in 2013. More recently, misuse has significantly decreased from 6.9 million U.S. persons to 5.5 million in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

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Risks Associated with Cold Water Extraction DXM

What is DXM? DXM is a synthetically produced substance chemically related to codeine, though it is not an opiate. DXM is an ingredient in more than 140 over-the-counter cough and cold remedies and, since the 1950s, has gradually replaced codeine as the most widely used cough suppressant in the United States. It is available in capsule, liquid, gelatin capsule, lozenge, and tablet forms. It also is available in powdered form on the Internet—typically for sale to laboratories researching DXM.

Over-the-counter DXM products often contain other ingredients such as acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, and guaifenesin. Large dosages of acetaminophen can cause liver damage; large dosages of chlorpheniramine can cause increased heart rate, lack of coordination, seizures, and coma; and large dosages of guaifenesin can cause vomiting. Some first-time users may not abuse DXM repeatedly if they experience adverse side effects—such as vomiting—commonly associated with the other ingredients in over-the-counter DXM medications.

Abuse of dextromethorphan in cold medications has become an increasingly common problem in the US. DXM cold water extraction allows users to feel dextromethorphan’s effects without the side effects of antimuscarinic agents, saccharin, guaifenesin, and additives commonly found in combination cold preparations.

Cold Water Extraction DXM Abuse

DXM abusers can obtain the drug at almost any pharmacy or supermarket. Most seek out products that have a high concentration of the drug. One of the most frequently abused products containing DXM is Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold, which contains 30 milligrams of DXM per tablet. Abusers often refer to Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold as triple C because of the three Cs imprinted on the red pills. Other slang terms include skittles, dex, candy, and red devils. Another frequently abused product containing DXM is Robitussin DM, a syrup that contains 2 milligrams of DXM per milliliter.

DXM abuse among adolescents will most likely increase as the drug is relatively easy to obtain and inexpensive. Moreover, adolescents perceive the risk of abusing the drug as low. Stopping DXM abuse will require increased public awareness of the drug’s potential for abuse, increased awareness of the inherent risks associated with abusing DXM, and increased diligence of parents, educators, health care providers, law enforcement personnel, and retailers who market products containing DXM.

Dangers of Cold Water Extract Codeine

Codeine is prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain, coughing, and diarrhea. Codeine belongs to a class of medications called opioid analgesics. These induce pain relief by suppressing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. The drug has also been labeled an antitussive that represses cough by inhibiting the cough center in the brain. Precautions must be taken when using this drug. Since opiates are highly addictive, suddenly increasing doses or consuming them for a long time can easily result in opioid dependence. Attempting to quit without medical help can also lead to the onset of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Codeine is taken in oral tablets or liquid form.

Cold Water Extraction Codeine Abuse

Codeine abuse is similar to other opiate drugs, such as morphine, hydrocodone, and heroin, because it is a CNS depressant. The drug, in large doses, can initially produce sensations of relaxation, euphoria, calmness, pleasant sleepiness, a sense of well-being, and a loss of inhibitions. However, codeine can also produce several serious side effects, including:

How Cold Water Extraction Oxycodone Process Works

Percocet, which contains an opioid pain reliever ( oxycodone) and a non-opioid pain reliever ( acetaminophen ) is crushed and dissolved in cold water and undergoes filtration through a coffee filter. The cold water extraction Percocet process is relatively simple for people who find a “safer” method of oxycodone use appealing. The extracted oxycodone can be smoked, snorted, or injected after being mixed into a solution. 

Illicit use of oxycodone can increase your risk of overdose. It can be challenging to tell the amount you ingest after extracting the oxycodone. Taking large amounts of oxycodone can lead to an opioid overdose. Abusing opioid analgesics can involve taking them in unapproved ways or taking high doses of the drug simultaneously. Cold water extraction Oxycodone can include both factors, increasing your risk of long-term abuse and opioid use disorders.

What is Cold Water CBD Extraction?

The Cold Water CBD extraction process is based on traditional techniques that have evolved over the years. It uses ice water/baths to extract and produce tetrahydrocannabinol (THD) and cannabidiol (CBD) distillate.  Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high associated with marijuana. THC travels to the brain via the bloodstream and attaches to the endocannabinoid receptors in areas such as pleasure, movement, memory, and thought. 

The most common side effects of consuming CBD or CBD oil include the following:

Another cause for concern is the unreliability of the purity and dosage of CBD in products. A recent study of 84 CBD products bought online showed that more than a quarter of the products contained less CBD than labeled. In addition, THC was found in 18 products.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

If you think a loved one is abusing drugs or alcohol, you should research the substances and their associated addiction to understand better what your loved one needs. Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle the effects of drug addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During this intervention, offer compassion and support instead of judgment. Lastly, show your support throughout the entire treatment process.

In addition, prolonged drug use can have severe physical and psychological effects on you, so it is essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. To better understand how long hydrocodone stays in your system, it is essential to get medical assistance when needed. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of drug withdrawal. 

Opioid Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated drug detox withdrawal but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete the drug detox.

Cravings are very common during drug detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can give medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient Opioid Addiction Rehab

There isn’t one treatment approach or style that will suit everyone. Treatment should speak to the needs of the individual. Inpatient rehab and addiction treatment aren’t just about drug use. the goal is to help the patient stop using drugs and other substances, but drug rehab should also focus on the whole person’s needs.

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. When someone or their family is considering different treatment facilities, they should account for the complexity of addiction and the needs of the individual. The objective of attending an inpatient rehab center for addiction treatment is to stop using the drug and re-learn how to live a productive life without it.

Following a full medical detox, most people benefit from inpatient rehab. Inpatient drug rehab can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Patients stay overnight in the rehab facility and participate in intensive treatment programs and therapy. Once someone completes rehab, their addiction treatment team will create an aftercare plan, which may include continuing therapy and participation in a 12-step program like Narcotics Anonymous.

Psychotherapy

Many rehab programs will also have early morning classes or programs. Group sessions occur during inpatient rehab, as do individual therapy sessions. Family therapy may be part of inpatient rehab when it’s feasible. Alternative forms of therapy may be introduced during inpatient rehab, like a holistic therapy program, yoga for addiction recovery, or an addiction treatment massage therapy.

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Solution-focused therapy is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. Traumatic experiences can often result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend mainly on the treatment for both diseases done by the same team or provider.