Can you become PHYSICALLY addicted to pain pills if you only a few times a week to get high?

[healthierme2020]

I am terrified. I was a heroin addict for 23yrs. I had 6yrs clean. In the last couple of months I began taking a few various types of prescription opiates. Now, I am afraid of detox. I never take them every day, but at least twice a week. Will I have to go through detox again? Answers from anyone whose actually been there would be greatly appreciated. I am beyond afraid.

[healthierme2020]

I finally kicked and feel so much better. I had such a terrible experience with gettiing off of methadone, and have heard suboxone detox was really hard too. So I just decided to take my knocks on the chin and get it over with. And though it was miserable, I have to say that I am really happy that I did. Besides the cold sweats, for me, for some reason were always the hardest part of detox, so it was cathartic to make it through them again. It reminded me of just how much I never want to be here again. And I don't. Taught me a huge lesson that I cannot play with this stuff again ever! Not even once, my receptor sites woke up quickly, and with a vengance. It quite literally terrified me. In short I got off really easy, and learned something. The other people on this post are right. I am still an addict after all of these years and I have to get help or I will be right back here again with a quickness. I'm not knocking suboxone for anyone but me, don't really know much about it. Took my first and last sliver of it a few weeks ago and I liked it so much that it frightened me. Even when I was playing with the pain pills I had enough clarity in me somewhere to know that would have been disasterous in my situation, Thanks for the suggestion though, Fortunately, I didn't take any more of it or need it. Though the dopesick was unpleasant, to say the very least.

[Katy83]

  Hang in there! I am an addict going on 4 years clean. Have you thought about suboxone? If you don't want to go that route, I gotcha. I've been there and I feel your pain, girl! Always here for you....

[healthierme2020]

Just so you guys know, still holding strong. Just having the cold sweats, but I can hang. I am seeking treatment through peer counseling. Forgot how much talking helps, and how much secrets keep me sick.

[Htownnofrown]

When you go to meetings, no matter where you go, there are always going to be people there who don't actually work the program. The trick is to surround yourself with the ones that do. Those people shouldn't be hard to find if you take the time to talk to some of them. Going to meetings is great, but the magic happens in working the steps with a sponsor, so keep that in mind.

[healthierme2020]

Still doing well. Threw away all of my temptations, of course I am highly aware that more are easy to get. I so never want to be here again. No longer concerned about WD, but I really need to come up with a gameplan. Meetings in my community are tough because everyone knows everyone, and most of the people there are court ordered to be and leave and party together afterwards (I went last week & it was even worse than I remembered). Triggered another relapse, but I never did have good luck there. Not trying to knock it for other folks, but I'd have NEVER had the 6yrs clean that I had if I'd have kept going to NA. Though I do still beleive there is much good in the program itself.
Do you think its possible to do online meetings? Is there even such a thing?

[vicki595]

You keep on doing this because your brain is addicted and you can't stop yourself. It's typical.  You need to break the cycle. You need to seek out some kind of recovery care and make a plan.

Until you stop doing this,you will never stop! Addiction has a crazy way of feeding itself.
You can never take opiates again without having a problem...find some help and stick with it!!

[BlueOpiate]

Well, heroin is an opiate as vicodin, etc...I'm sure you know this.  One might think you could mess around with some pills here and there and it wouldn't be a big deal.  But even those weaker opiates hit the same areas heroin does and wakes up those extra receptors.  It's best just to stop now.  You already said you have no physical WD which is great but that could all change in the blink on an eye or you could use even more.

It is amazing how many people are on some type of opiate pain medication.  It's pretty obvious not everyone really needs them.  I know plenty of people on them and yes, it does make it harder to get off.

[healthierme2020]

Thanks guys. I waited 3 days and caved and did another 2 hydros. Now I am on day 2, feeling no withdrawals, but so afraid for tomorrow. I need strength. When I was actively using heroin and methadone, I was actually very alone in my little suburb here. Now everyone I know is hooked on pain pills. Until the last couple of months, I'd never really had any experience with them because I had dope, and it was more powerful. But now everything has changed and half the people I know are opiate dependant, it's so readily available. And I seem to be so weak. Why do I keep on doing this to me?

[BlueOpiate]

The brother is correct.  The extent of WD you will feel is anyone's guess, everyone is different.  Have you felt any WD in between the time you were using?  If you only use 2 times per week, there has to be a break of a few days, this should tell you how you will feel.  My guess is the mental WD is going to be strong, while the physical part should be very little.  Remember, this is just a guess.  You are playing with fire big time, get out now.

[BrotherFrankie]

opiate receptors that were manufactured by the body during use go dormant. they never go away. when someone who has used opiates (heroin, pills, methadone etc..) uses after being clean the receptors wake up. Big time.

some withdrawal symptoms can be expected of an opiate abuser dabbles after being clean.

u are playing with fire. you are still an addict.

been there done that..

messgae me if u like..
Frankie