TABLE OF CONTENTS
This guide explains the effects, trends, and dangers of Dilaudid use and provides an unbiased analysis of the medicinal and behavioral treatment methods for Dilaudid addiction based on current research and publicly available statistics. In some cases, usage statistics are derived from general prescription opioid use, which includes morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone.
Derived From | Synthesized, in part, from morphine and other substances |
Ways Used | Injected, ingested, chewed, snorted |
Scientific Name | Hydromorphone hydrochloride |
Slang/Street Names for Dilaudid | Dillies, D, Juice, Footballs, Dust, Smack |
How Long in Bodily System | Half-life: 8 to 15 hours
Eliminated in two to three days |
Punitive Legal Measures: Using/Possession | The penalties for Dilaudid possession depend on whether the offense is charged as a state or federal crime. For state crimes, a first offense is usually charged as a misdemeanor, with penalties including fines and up to one year in jail. A conviction on federal charges may result in up to five years in prison. |
Punitive Legal Measures: Selling/Distributing | Distributing Dilaudid is a more serious offense than simply possessing Dilaudid without a valid prescription. The offense may be charged as a felony, with penalties ranging from steep fines to up to 20 years in prison. Penalties are usually enhanced if the offense involved selling Dilaudid near a school or other public facility. |
DEA Drug Rating | Schedule II |
The brain contains three types of opioid receptors: delta, kappa, and mu. Dilaudid binds to the mu receptors, triggering the release of dopamine, a chemical that plays several important roles in humans. Dopamine affects mood and motor control, which is why Dilaudid and other opioids can cause dizziness, stumbling, and mood swings.
Increased levels of dopamine may also play a role in Dilaudid addiction. After taking Dilaudid, the amount of dopamine in the brain increases. The individual experiences a pleasurable feeling, which is often referred to as a “high.” As a result, the brain learns that Dilaudid produces feelings of pleasure. Eventually, the brain no longer responds the same way to small amounts of Dilaudid, and the individual must keep taking more and more of the drug to experience the same reward.
Because Dilaudid affects the brain, it can also affect a person’s mood and behavior. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common behavioral symptoms of Dilaudid use. Taking Dilaudid may also cause an individual to take more risks than normal. For example, some people may engage in unprotected sex or make risky driving maneuvers. In severe cases, an individual who is addicted to Dilaudid can start to experience hallucinations.
Someone who is using Dilaudid may also start behaving unusually at home, at work, or at school. For example, an individual who usually attends work regularly may suddenly start arriving late or calling in sick. In adolescents, Dilaudid use can cause academic performance to suffer. A student using Dilaudid may also stop participating in sports and other after-school activities. Both adults and adolescents may distance themselves from current friends and start spending more time with new people when they are using Dilaudid. Additionally, they may start keeping secrets or acting in a suspicious manner, especially if they are trying to hide their Dilaudid use from others.
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services reports that people who are misusing drugs may display several psychological symptoms. These symptoms include paranoia, sudden mood swings, unexplained attitude changes, high levels of fear or anxiety, irritability, and sudden outbursts.
Dilaudid affects the central nervous system, which slows down a person’s breathing and also suppresses coughing. Using Dilaudid also affects an individual’s basal metabolic rate and sense of touch. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is how much energy the body uses when it is at rest. Due to its effects on the respiratory system, Dilaudid can cause severe side effects in people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung problems.
Dilaudid can produce physical effects within as little as 15 minutes. Although Dilaudid may produce a pleasurable “high,” some of its physical effects are dangerous, especially in people with chronic medical conditions.
Short-Term Physical Symptoms | |
Initial (direct effects of drug, 15-30 min.) | Flushing Drowsiness Lightheadedness |
Lingering (within an hour of taking the drug) | Itching Sweating Dizziness Nausea Vomiting Extreme drowsiness |
Post-Use (several hours to days after use) | Anxiety Depression Hoarseness Decreased sexual desir Dilaudid dependence |
Over time, some individuals become tolerant to the effects of Dilaudid, increasing the risk of dependency. Tolerance increases the risk of overdose, as it makes it impossible for an individual to experience the same pleasurable feeling with a small dose of Dilaudid. Therefore, some users start taking higher doses of Dilaudid just to experience the sensation of being high. Users may also take Dilaudid more often than recommended.
Dilaudid is especially dangerous when taken with other substances. Some substances, such as cold medicines, alcohol, medications used to treat insomnia (difficulty sleeping), sedatives, and antihistamines, are especially dangerous when combined with Dilaudid due to the way they affect the respiratory system. Mixing Dilaudid with stimulants can also be dangerous.
In a 2015 article published in the journal Pain Medicine, Chen and Ashburn reported that some people experience decreased heart function when they take opioids with benzodiazepines, which are typically used for treating anxiety. Dilaudid and other opioids can also cause swelling, low blood pressure, fainting, and reduced heart rate.
Long-Term Physical Symptoms | |
Casual | Headache Dizziness Drowsiness Constipation Vomiting Nausea Dry mouth |
Chronic
Including all of the above effects for casual use |
Slowed breathing Lightheadedness Fainting Sweating Loss of energy Drop in blood pressure |
Withdrawal | Anxiety Difficulty sleeping Sweating Agitation Aching muscles Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal cramps Teary eyes Dilated pupils Runny nose Goosebumps Sweating |
Sources: MedlinePlus, Abi-Aad and Derian
Both the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer in-depth information on both the symptoms and treatment of opioid addiction.
Between 1998 and 2010, the global supply of hydromorphone increased by 500%, according to the 2019 World Drug Report produced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In 1998, the hydromorphone supply was estimated to be less than 1,000 kilograms. By 2014, that amount had spiked to nearly 6,000 kilograms. Although Dilaudid is a prescription drug used for legitimate medical purposes, the increase in supply has made it easier for people to misuse Dilaudid.
Almost all of the hydromorphone produced each year is used by Americans, according to the 2019 World Drug Report. This aligns with Gular et al.’s claim that Americans consume 80% of the world’s opioid supply even though they account for less than 5% of the global population. Opioid misuse is so prevalent in the United States that more than 130 Americans die from opioid overdose on a daily basis. The reason opioid use is much higher in the United States than it is in other countries is because of increased prescribing rates in recent decades. During that time, prescribers did not know that opioids could be highly addictive. By the time the addictive potential of Dilaudid and other opioids was known, overdose rates had already increased.
Bosetti et al. examined trends in opioid use for 40 European countries. Although opioid use did increase between 2014 and 2016, it has since leveled off in several countries, including Poland, Ireland, Finland, France, and Denmark. The European Union also reports lower levels of opioid use. According to the data reviewed in this study, opioid use is much more common among people in Western and Northern Europe than it is in people who live in Eastern and Southern Europe.
Oceania, which includes Australia, Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia, has higher rates of opioid use than many other regions. The high prevalence of opioid use is due, in part, to the fact that Oceania is second only to North America in terms of the size of its opioid supply. In Oceania, the opioid supply is 12,563 daily doses per one million inhabitants, according to the 2019 World Drug Report. In contrast, Europe only has 8,812 daily doses per one million inhabitants, and Africa, Asia, and Central America all have an opioid supply of fewer than 500 daily doses per one million inhabitants.
Highest | Second | Third | |
Regions with the Highest Number of Prescription Opioid Users | North America | Oceania | Middle East/Southern Asia |
Regions with the Largest Supplies of Opioids | North America (30,814 daily doses per one million inhabitants) | Oceania (12,563 daily doses per one million inhabitants) | Europe (8,812 daily doses per one million inhabitants) |
*This table includes data from users of opioids other than Dilaudid.
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2019 World Drug Report
In 2016, approximately 4.4% of Americans aged 12 and older misused a prescription opioid like Dilaudid, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This accounts for nearly 12 million Americans. Most of these users reported abusing a prescription opioid rather than an illicit drug like heroin.
Opioid use remains a concern for medical professionals and first responders, but the results of the Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence indicate that opioid misuse may be decreasing in some age groups. For the study, students between the ages of 17 and 18 were asked if they had misused a narcotic within the past year or at some point in their lives. In 2018, 6% of the students surveyed reported any lifetime misuse of narcotics, a decrease from 7.8% in 2016. Additionally, only 3.4% of the students surveyed reported that they had misused a narcotic within the past year, a decrease from 5.4% in 2016.
Past Year (2018) | Lifetime | |
8th grade (14-15 yo) | No data collected | No data collected |
10th grade (15-16 yo) | No data collected | No data collected |
12th grade (17-18 yo) | 3.4% | 6% |
Long-term Dilaudid use causes users to become tolerant to the drug, which means they cannot receive the same “high” without taking higher doses or taking Dilaudid more often than recommended. Dilaudid also affects the reward center of the brain, causing users to crave the drug and satisfy their desire to experience pleasurable feelings. Over time, some users develop a dependence on the drug, which increases the risk of overdose and other serious consequences.
Stopping Dilaudid suddenly can cause severe withdrawal effects, so Dilaudid addiction treatment focuses on helping users slowly taper the amount of Dilaudid used each day. This slow process prevents severe withdrawal symptoms and reduces the risk of relapse. To find out more about Dilaudid treatment options, read our Dilaudid rehabilitation guide, which provides an overview of the available treatment options and explains how to find the right rehabilitation program.
If you have a loved one who’s struggling with addiction, staging an intervention is often the first necessary step towards sobriety, but it’s important to be strategic and loving in your approach. Even the most well-meaning of interventions can have a negative effect if they aren’t handled correctly.
1. Don’t Do It Alone. A professional interventionist is always the most qualified to guide a successful intervention. Also, rely on non-addict family and friends – especially those who have a close relationship with you or the addict. |
2. Research Ahead of Time. It’s best to do plenty of research ahead of time to gather insight on the addiction and how it affects the addict. Also, be prepared with local resources for getting help. |
3. Write Out Your Statement. During the actual intervention, emotions will likely be running high, so it’s best to have a statement of how the person’s addiction has impacted you and your relationship with him or her. These statements should be honest, yet written from a place of love – no personal attacks. |
4. Offer Help. It’s important for everyone attending the intervention to offer tangible help and support as the person works through detox and rehabilitation. |
5. Set Boundaries. If the person refuses to seek help and take the next steps outlined, it’s important that they understand that everyone present will end codependence and enabling behaviors. |