That ADDICTION "thing"

[DALESALIVE]

I was clean for soo many years then BAM! That ol' addictsnake reared his ugly head again. Ever so subtle at first- 10mg Oxy Dr Feelgood perscribed for pain. Two years later I drained about 40 grand savings buying 80's by the hundred. Then I looked at what assets I could liquidate. I DID feel like I wasn't a "bore" any longer and I worked like a demon; but I didn't get anywhere.
Now I have went to a methadone clinic and though it got me off opiates, I have little good to say about the place. Knew a couple boys that died and they said it was from mixing methadone with other drugs. My problem with "them" is I feel they are just glorified drug "dealers" and have no real "plan" except to give you methadone for a couple years and take your money until you smartin up; thereby their "profitability" with you ceases and you are still alive. Pretty negative huh?
Right now I feel I am doing GREAT! I am taking a third to a half saboxin ea morning and a half of a 1mg lorezepam 10 minutes before bed. Knocks me out with no morning aftereffects. I feel "normal" and I am thinking and functioning clearly. The only downside is the saboxin made both hands go numb at night but that isn't half as bad as it was a month ago. Haven't taken an opiate for about 3 or 4 months now.
I didn't see the point of taking methadone for years so after 6-8 wks began weening off 2mg per day sometimes holding  on the week-end. Then at about 5mg I had massive chest pains and went to the ER. I was taking methadone and lorezepam at the time which supposedly is a danger as the clinic's view. ER hooked me up all night and gave me diladid for WD. I checked out OK; but MAN! What a reality check! Supposedly stress related, so I started taking the saboxin.(from off the street) Best move I ever made. If I don't take it I get so anxious and I don't have enough ambition to walk down the hall and take a shower. And this from a guy who has been use to working two jobs most of his life. I have read with other of y'alls testimonies that saboxin is hard to get off of also. I guess I'll find out when the time comes. Right now I am enjoying being a "normal" functioning husband and dad. I also have found great soothing calm from reading the bible. I believe every single word in it and I especially relish the fact that it is nothing I do "good" that gets me my "free ride". The price has been paid for me and all I have to do is accept it. That probably has helped more than anything 'cause I know NO ONE should go through this hell alone.
I would enjoy hearing from anyone who is inclined to get in touch- wether for advise or help me progress. And if you are wondering if prayer will help you; all I can say is "believe" it will and try it. IT WORKS FOR ME! lol Best of luck to you all. Just don't give up-Never give up! We are going to make it!

[DALESALIVE]

Thank you for your heartfelt pep talk and the "friend" invite. Now comes the hard part of getting totally clean. Even though the drugs don't make me "feel" anything but normal, I know I am using a substitute to be that way and I want to be dependant on nothing but God. I recently got back to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God". I know in my heart and soul that I am. I develop lot's of property, well it's dead slow now, but I know that material things are not the first thing on my list. That is an accomplishment of which I am very grateful and give God the credit. My goal is to walk with Him daily. It just seems like everything is by faith when I would like to experience showers of blessings like I have in the past. Regardless, I will not turn back and I want to cement this friendship w/Jesus from now to eternity. When I get finished praying now, amen is like a period while reading a story. You came to the end of that sentence but you're still reading the story. That's what I envision is the addage "prayer without ceasing". I would appreciate your prayers.Thanks, Dale

[Tab57]

Your experience is very inspirational and educational. Congratulations on your latest recovery effort. I agree that methadone is not a goood option for a recovering addict. It is a very powerful and addictive drug. I will pray for you and your recovery efforts.

A friend of mine has been clean for six months with the help of suboxone. I question the use of a drug to fight addiction. It is working well for him. He is doing this with the pros as he is getting help through a local drug rehab center.

He is addiciton was to Loratabs he was losing assets and loved ones quickly. He leveled with me in January and I helped him get help. He is also getting counseling. He says that counseling is invaluable to his recovery efforts.

Please stay in touch.

Tom

[onthefence]

also it has a 32 mg. ceiling effect, and is 40 times stronger than morphine depending on ROA.

withdrawl can be alot longer and harder than oxy.

I think it has its place for certain ppl. but is still a money game with doctors.
what mg. pill are you taking a "third to a half" of?
The elimination half-life  of buprenorphine (suboxone) is 20-73 hours (mean 37).
so you might not feel WD. for 3 days after last piece of pill.

there are some real smart ppl on here that can tell you there experience w/sub, I have never taken it as it sounds like another methadone type maintenance thing to me, but like i said it does have its place in recovery for some ppl.

[onthefence]

Suboxone is a partial opiate (partial agonist),

careful, its a heck of alot stronger than most opiate, opioids.

Buprenorphine is an Bentley-derivative opioid of the phenanthrene  class with extremely high binding affinity at the µ-opioid receptor. It has partial agonist activity at the µ-opioid receptor, partial or full agonist  activity at the ORL1/nociceptin  receptor, and competitive antagonist activity at the kappa, and antagonist activity at the delta opioid receptors