Hello, welcome to health care magic. I am Dr Alok Sinha, MD Psychiatry from India. I will try my best to answer your query. I have carefully read your question and I understand your concern and it is genuine. Vicodine is a combination of hydrocodone (an opiate) and acetaminophen (a NSAID), used for severe pains like pains of cancer or serious trauma. This drug makes the mind little drowsy, cut off the inhibitions and creates a false sense of well being for some time. Some persons like the effect of drug on mind and desire to have the same effect again and again. The main problem with the drug is that, due to tolerance developed, the amount of drug required to produce the same effect on brain is increased. So the person takes more and more drug get the desired effects. Finally the person lands up consuming many folds of the prescribed dose at a time. It is a serious condition as it may cause liver damage, serious harmful effects on brain like seizure, coma and even death. A doctor never wants his patients to get addicted to a drug, so it is prescribed by a doctor for a short term only (knowing the high abuse potential of this drug). As you say, it appears that your brother got prescribed this drug by a doctor, later on he became addicted to this and now he is abusing this drug without doctor’s prescription. Certainly he requires medical help. De-addiction at home is difficult with opiates addiction as it has serious withdrawal discomfort. He must get the professional services of a de-addiction/rehabilitation center. Hope it answers your question. I wish your brother a healthy drug free life.