No one dies from Opiate withdraws

[Demandie]

Beth41
A true addict cannot taper off by themselves.  A true addict, even with the best of intentions, is not stronger then the drug he/she takes.  A true addict is powerless over the power the drug has over him/her.
So if you are a TRUE addict, you will never be able to taper yourself off, by yourself.  You will need help.  ANd the good thing about needing help is that it means nothing more than.....you need help.
So many people do.  It's the ones that won't ask for it that have the hardest time getting and STAYING clean. My help has come through the form of GOD, Suboxone and AA.  Eventually, I'm in hopes it will only be GOD and AA.  
NA is also a good program.  I just prefer the fellowship and the people in AA, to me they are less "harsh".  Only my opinion and that doesn't mean much to anyone but me.
Good Luck   I hope you ask for help in your area and meet some "winners" in recovery.

[Friend999]

The only addicts I see on here are:

A - Awesome
D - Determined
D - Detoxing
I - Instructive
C - Caring
T - Terrific
S - Souls

I can't imagine any arguments on that.

Friend999

[Id_Complex]

I'm sure there are different degrees of addiction.  When I first got addicted to pills I would have paid my rent and electric bill before I bought pills.  in the end it was f**k everything else and buy dope.  I gave up my life as I know it for a pill...  I have $28,000 from last year that is completely unaccounted for.  I would say I'm an addict as well..   I have tapered down a good deal I didn't always stick to it I cheated at times but I did get it done.   I almost down low enough for my doctor to feel comfortable putting me on suboxone for a short while which I will be tapered off of also...  reguardless of your opinion there is still fact and fiction.  

Addict
/n. ˈædɪkt; v. əˈdɪkt/       [n. ad-ikt; v. uh-dikt]

–noun 1. a person who is addicted to an activity, habit, or substance: a drug addict.  

–verb (used with object) 2. to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on an addictive substance, as alcohol or a narcotic.  
3. to habituate or abandon (oneself) to something compulsively or obsessively: a writer addicted to the use of high-flown language; children addicted to video games.  

[avisg]

Wow I just typoed that one to death ....LOL

Well thats why I have aftercare ....That has helped me stay clean the last 10 months. I am not powerless at all.

[gizzy32]

i too am powerless over drugs, well most anyway, but there comes a time in a "true addicts" life where it finally hits them. like GTMI says, when your desire to get clean is stonger than your desire to use, then we addicts are capable of anything we want, whether it be tapering ct, going to N/A or whatever it takes, it can be done. we just have to want it bad enough and do what it takes to stay clean. i have seen many addicts taper, not sure i would have the willpower, but i respect all those that do.

[avisg]

Well that why I have aftercare .That has helped stay  me clean the last 10 months.I am not powerless at all .

[Demandie]

You may GET clean by yourself......but can you STAY clean?
GETTING sober is no problem.  It's the staying sober.

[Demandie]

I am a true addict.  I am powerless over drugs and alcohol and I can not beat either one of them without help.
This is also my opinion--which--I'm allowed to have.

[puranx]

LOL i tried to taper once and it went up instead of down, c/t was it for me but many people can taper, people who are dependent because of pain and not recreation have a better time tapering. Recreational users gotta just drop it all together...i was a mix of both, but c/t was my only way and it it kicked my @ss the last final time enough to say "ok had enough" Never looked back.

[txchick008]

A true addict absolutey CAN taper. I am doing it right now. I've been on narcotic pain meds for the past 6 months, dosing every 5-6 hours......The drug tries to convince you that you don't have the willpower...and that IT has ALL THE POWER. But it's a trick. That damn drug NEVER had the power. You do.

[worried878]

Okay...i was awful at tapering..handed them over...but i really woulda rather gone CT but had to wait on time off work to get here...just 10 days and it really wasnt much of a taper...i dont like the term "addict" either....very technical in my opinion and everyone's situation is different...the only thing i do not like about meetings is saying..I am an addict" before anything i say or add to the meeting....i would like to one day leave this behind...of course always remembering that i can not use successfully...but to leave it behind in the sense that i am a normal and productive person in the scheme of things

[emilyanne]

Hi There...
I just wanted to give my opinion on your post...with all due respect, tapered down from ten pills a day, until I got to 3 a day. Then I went cold turkey. I have been clean for almost two years. My best friend also just completed a slow taper, and has been clean for almost two months. Your post sounds a little discouraging to those who are trying to get up the stamina and will power to wean down and get off those pills. It CAN be done, if you are determined to do it. NA, counseling and faith in a higher power are all very important, but never underestimate the willpower of a human being!!!

[mimi1313]

I like that too. I hate labels. People shouln't be defined that way.

[puranx]

your still on suboxone...to get off that and deal with those w/d's will take tapering and a long long time and not an easy time. I would hold off the semi preachy opinion until truly clean. You will not be c/t'ing suboxone, believe me. Tapering works for some people just like suboxone or methadone has helped others. Everyones got there nitch, mines c/t from opiates. Its the fastest way to get clean and i think its easier then tapering to be honest.

Sorry just hate people using the term addict, call yourself that but i dont believe in it at all. Its a label for yourself to carry forever and never truly walk away from your past problems. I will never call someone an addict unless there in the street selling there souls for it and not trying to get better.

[broknbck]

Yes asking for help of course is going to help. I let everyone i knew or was around all the time that i was addicted and trying to tapper and get off of them. I held my pills and set up a plan and did it.

It sounds like you are admitting defeat and accepting weakness and inability. That might not be a good mentality for staying off. We can choose to be how ever strong or powerful we want to be. The mind is a strong tool. We are always growing and changing. What we have to keep in mind is that we are from experience now very vunerable to addictions and should stay away from anything that can be habit forming or addictive.

[mimi1313]

i agree with Avisg. I tapered so I'm not an addict? An addict is still capable of having power over their thoughts and actions just like anyone else/

[GoingToMakeIt]

Thanks. It is true.

[gizzy32]

GTMI i love that line. "when your desire to get clean is stronger than your desire to use then you will get clean. it's so true

[GoingToMakeIt]

I think you are answering people's posts by posting a new response. At the end of their post is a box where you give your response and then hit Post Comment at the bottom of that page.
Although it is hard, it is not impossible to taper. I went c/t but I also did it with pills still in my medicine cabinet. You do what has to be done to get and stay clean.

"When your desire to get clean, is stronger than your desire to use. Then, you will get clean"  GTMI

[avisg]

Does that mean I am not an addict LOL .I am an addict and I was able to taper myself off my DOC . I did what I had to do. I had a sick child. I had to be healthy to care for him that was enough to push me threw .