Does anyone know someone who recovered from a opiate addiction on their own?

Question

I have a family member who has been addicted to Vicodin for about 5 years. While treatment would be most beneficial, of course, I feel like if he had an option - something he could try on his own... It may have a better outcome. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

Answer 1

Sure. Here and there, now and then, people are able to stop using without medical help. But the withdrawal is so intense that relapse in most people is inevitable. Withdrawal from opioids is not life-threatening, but it is extremely intense and most people use unless confined in a medical setting, or for some folks, jail. It's like the worst case of the flu times ten! After 3 to 4 days the withdrawal diminishes, but relapse is generally just a phone call (or drugstore) away.

There are of course, medical options to assist. There's methadone, of course. Being in the addictions field (and in recovery myself), like many I feel that abstinent-based recovery is best, but I realize that methadone has its place. Many clinics are "gas-and-go" with no real treatment, but the patient can insist to be detoxed after a short period of time rather than on maintenance. One person above mentioned an implant - the drug used is naltrexone. My first paper was published on this drug in 1984. It has its place, but its effectiveness is questionable. It doesn't make the person sick (like Antabuse for alcohol) it blocks the "high." But many folks just use more and some ovedose trying to get high. The most promising new treatment is buprenorphine. It can be prescribed and filled at a pharmacy, a month's supply at a time - no daily visit to the clinic. But only a handful of doctors can prescribe it. Generally most health depts have a doc who can. It can be used to detox in a short time as well as maintenance like methadone. I am a firm believer in "bup" and it can help.

He needs to go to NA (or AA if not available). Most AA's today have extensive drug history and the steps are the same. Most addicts need to realize that alcohol is also a drug and many "addicts" end up drinking instead. So going to AA regardless of an extensive drinking history is OK, because the only requirement for membership "is a desire to stop drinking." One of three things generally happens to an addict who decides to drink: 1. They'll have a new drug of choice, 2. it'll make them pick up their old drug of choice, 3. they'll have two drugs choice now. Alcohol is a drug.

So, AA or NA meetings and call your local health department. Even if you don't have insurance, they'll make arrangements regardless of ability to pay. It's their job! I wish there was another way. Oh yeah, Nar-Anon or Al-Anon for the family members. The meetings are there to help YOU, not the addict.

I truly hope this helps.

Rick the Pharmacist
(I work in a treatment center, too)

Answer 2

Well i have been a heroin addict since i was 16 i am 30 now. I could never get off and stay clean so i got a methadone which was a double edged sword. On 1 hand i have no urge to use opiates on the other i am addicted to the meth which has very little euphoric effects but for a vic habbit a 4 day detox is what they need and you need to call every doctor in the area and tell them they are a addict and dont give them meds! Also there is something called suboxone which would be better for him and save his life. It has something in it that will relive all of his withdrawl symtoms and it has something that will block the opiate receptors so he wont use and will get litttle or no effect from the opiates.

Answer 3

Yes certainly. In fact, it is one of the best ways in my view because the addict is, presumably, motivated and relying only on himself, not someone, something, somewhere else to do the work for him. This is a major problem with addicts, accepting responsibility and delaying gratification, in other words short term pain for long term gain. No one has ever died from withdrawal or suffered severe illness as a direct result (although the meds given sometimes to ease symptoms have killed). The addict will have an unpleasant few days and then either relapse or not. A few days worth of sleeping pills might help. But be careful not to substitute one addiction for another. Rehab treatment has a 1-2% success rate (no relapse within 1 year). Mostly big business now.Good luck.

Answer 4

as with any addiction medical help is the best way to go about getting a full lasting recovery. most who choose to try to kick whatever habbit they may have tend to relaps thinking they stopped once they can stop again.
The best thing for someone who's trying to recover on their own to do is make sure they have someone who can be by their side through out the withdrawls stage, someone who can encourage them when those withdrawls are at the peak worst, someone who can be there for the afterwards as well to keep him on track and not let him get hands on the stuff again. its a long process and it wont happen overnight. and most of all the person addicted has to be able to admit to the addiction and admit they have a problem and want help. if the person addicted isnt the one wanting to get well and its the family or friends pushing for the addiction to stop it will never work at all!
I was addicted to Xanax. my doctor prescribded for my sever anxiety disorder. they had me taking 1 milligram once a day. i got to the point where i had to have 6-10 pills a day. this went on for months and i was missing out on so much with my kids. there were days i was so high on the meds i couldnt remember anything that went on during the day. i dont know how the kids got fed or bathed or any of the house work got done. one day i finally admitted i had a problem and i had to stop. the withdrawls were utter hell and i hated myself for allowing myself to be that way. i wanted help and i did it all on my own. same things many years ago with meth, i quite on my own because i really wanted to.
so it can be done without medical proffesionals no matter what ppl may think.
your not alone with having a family member addicted to vicodin. i have an uncle who is the same and hes been like that for over 12 years. he crushes them and smokes them, he snorts them, he has even shot it up like heroine. hes been in and out of rehab and it has never helped him. i hope your family member is not like him and he can help himself or get the help he needs.

Answer 5

Having had personal experience of this, I didn't have the option to go into a rehab to get off after 10 years but I was able to stop and have stayed off of pharmaceutical opiates for 15 years now. It was not pleasant, and it did feel like the flu--somewhat, but I just made up my mind that I really needed to stop and took a lot of extra-strength tylenol to ease the aches and pains. I'm glad that I didn't get into methadone, because methadone in itself is additive and then you have a whole new problem to get rid of. Like I said, my mind was already made up that I was going to kick it for good, and it was uncomfortable physically for a bit, (I was very edgy too), but I did it and it's not impossible to do on one's own.

Answer 6

I used to be addicted to meth. It has been two years that I have been clean. I quit all by myself. I had to hit my rock bottom. Then I realized that I wanted a better life. It took me about a month to really feel well again. But it is so worth it. Good luck to your family member. Just remember the addict has to really want to get sober or it won't work.

Answer 7

It is very difficult to break an addiction without support of medical professionals.

I would recommend that you contact a local Al-Anon chapter. Also remember that it isn't only the addict who suffers from the addiction, family and friends also suffer.

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/english.html

Answer 8

i have a close friend that was a morphine addict. he used methodone to kick the habit. he was on methadone for a long time... (4 yrs maybe?) and then finally kicked it.
of course he is now a raging alcoholic..... i'm not intending to be a bubble-popper, but for some addicts it is a life long affliction that simply finds new ways to manifest itself when suppressed. a strong support network is imperative.

Answer 9

they have a medicine that is put under the skin and if they take any opiate they get sick but no one i know that takes opiates ever stopped on there own