Understanding the problem
These days, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the toll that opioid addiction is taking on everyday people. As a society, we are used to hearing about celebrities grappling with addiction or overdosing on prescription medications. But we still stop short when we hear that each day in the United States, 78 Americans die from an opioid overdose, 46 of those from an overdose of prescription pain relievers.
What are opioids?
“Opioid” is the catchall term for substances that bind to a group of receptors in the central nervous system called opioid receptors.
Opioids are naturally occurring or synthetic (man-made). Your brain makes its own brand of opioids, called endorphins. Plant-derived opioids, called opiates, come from the seedpod of the Asian opium poppy plant. They include opium, morphine, and codeine.
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid. Synthetic opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), fentanyl (Duragesic), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and meperidine (Demerol).
Treating opioid addiction
Unlike stopping heavy alcohol or sedative use, depending upon health status, quitting opioid drugs is not particularly risky. Still, it is always wise to get guidance about detoxification from your physician. This is particularly true if you have an underlying condition such as cardiovascular disease that is worsened by the withdrawal symptoms or if you are pregnant; cutting back or detoxing can result in miscarriage. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before attempting to cut back or detoxify.
There are a variety of methods to choose from when attempting to stop or cut back your drug use. Many people recover without treatment—on their own. Others benefit from a formal treatment program that includes medications to help ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. We provide explanations of strategies that people in recovery and clinicians have found to be most effective below.
Tips for cutting down
Many people who develop opioid addiction want to cut down and reduce the problems associated with use rather than quit altogether. Eventually, most learn about their need to stop completely. Deciding how to start the process—gradually or abruptly—is something each person should work out or discuss with the help of a clinician.
The following steps can help people reduce their opioid use:
Put it in writing. Making a list of the reasons to curtail your drug use—such as feeling healthier, sleeping better, or improving your relationships—can motivate you.
Set a drug use goal for reducing or stopping such use. Set a limit on how much you will use.
Keep a diary of your drug use. For three to four weeks, keep track of every time you use. Include information about what and how much you used as well as where you were. Compare this to your goal. If you’re having trouble sticking to your goal, discuss it with your doctor or another health professional.
Don’t keep drugs in your house. Having no psychoactive drugs in your home can help limit your drug use.
Choose drug-free days. Decide not to use opioid drugs a day or two each week. You might want to abstain for a week or a month to see how you feel physically and emotionally without drugs in your life. Taking a break from drug use can be a good way to start using less.
Watch for peer pressure. Practice ways to say no politely. You do not have to use just because others are, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to accept every time you’re offered a drug. Stay away from people who encourage you to use.
Keep busy. Take a walk, play sports, go out to eat, or catch a movie. When you’re at home, pick up a new hobby or revisit an old one. Painting, board games, playing a musical instrument, woodworking — these and other activities are great alternatives to using drugs.
Ask for support. Cutting down on your opioid use may not always be easy. Let friends and family members know that you need their support. Your doctor, counselor, or therapist may also be able to offer help; several medications are available to help curb the urge to use opioids.
Guard against temptation. Steer clear of people and places that make you want to use drugs. If you associate opioid use with certain events, such as holidays or vacations, develop a plan for managing these situations in advance. For example, plan to spend holidays with friends and family who support your sobriety and are willing to have a drug-free celebration. Also, some travel agencies specialize in sober vacations. Monitor your feelings. When you’re worried, lonely, or angry, you might be tempted to use drugs. Try to cultivate new, healthy ways to cope with stress.
Be persistent. Most people who successfully cut down or stop using drugs do so after several attempts. You’ll probably have setbacks, but don’t let them keep you from reaching your long-term goal.
Some of these strategies — such as watching for peer pressure, keeping busy, asking for support, being aware of temptation, and being persistent — also can be helpful for people who want to give up opioid use completely.
Once you’ve cut back on your drug use, check regularly to make sure your opioid use isn’t creeping back up. Some people attain their goal only to find that old habits crop up again later. If this happens, revisit your plan to control your opioid use, consult your doctor, and recommit to your goals.
As you cut down your opioid use, keep in mind that you also are lowering your body’s tolerance to opioids. As we have noted before, lower tolerance means that your body can no longer handle the larger doses that you were once using. If you go back to the same or a higher dose, either intentionally or unintentionally, you are susceptible to overdose.
Managing withdrawal symptoms
Opioids are notorious for producing withdrawal symptoms — your body’s response to cutting down or stopping use of a substance to which your body has become dependent. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, and involuntary leg movements. These symptoms usually subside within a week, but some people continue to experience sleep problems and irritability for months.
Medications to help you quit
Medications for opioid addiction (see Table 1) can help with detoxification, the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while helping prevent or ease withdrawal symptoms. These drugs also can help reduce cravings. “Detox” is not a treatment for addiction itself, but it is a useful first step when followed by treatment with a behavioral-based therapy and/or medication.
Increasing evidence shows that medically assisted treatment (MAT)—a combination of medication and psychosocial treatments — is most effective for opioid use disorder. A study of MassHealth patients found that patients on medication treatments like methadone or buprenorphine (see below) are 50% less likely to relapse. Other studies have shown that patients treated with these medications are 50% (or more) less likely to die.
Although sometimes criticized as “replacing one addiction with another,” these medications can restore normalcy to people’s lives, stabilize their home and work life, and enhance their motivation to change.
HELPGUIDEORG INTERNATIONAL is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization (ID #45-4510670). Our content does not constitute a medical or psychological consultation. See a certified medical or mental health professional for diagnosis.