The CDC estimates that approximately 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. The NHS estimates that 28 million Britons are living with chronic pain. A large percentage of these people have been prescribed opioid painkillers, an option which can numb pain but also lead sufferers into the “prescription trap”, a cycle which causes dependence and addiction. This is the phenomenon at the root of our current opioid crisis, and it has devastated families, destroyed communities, and ended countless lives. The UN reports that two-thirds of global overdose deaths are caused by opioids. If you’re using or abusing opioid-based painkillers, the time for quitting opioids is now! But before you begin the struggle, there are some things you need to know.
Symptoms Of Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms from quitting opioids can be quite severe. They’ll likely include nausea, chills, muscle pain, sweating, and increased anxiety. Most doctors will recommend tapering your dose over a period of time, reducing the dose by 10-20% every few weeks. If you’re looking to stop more quickly, we’d recommend checking into a treatment center or looking into ibogaine, a treatment which can dramatically reduce the withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids and opiates.
Many people have found relief from withdrawal symptoms through exercise, meditation and mindfulness practice, and breathing exercises. But for those who have become physically and psychologically dependent on opioids, it can be difficult to find relief. If you feel that you have become dependent or addicted, you might need a more intensive treatment than just tapering.
Assess Your Needs And Find The Right Treatment For You
A recent study found that only 35% of patients attempting to taper their opioid use are successful. The more you have come to rely on these potent drugs, the harder it will be to adjust to life without them. As you begin this process, it’s imperative that you honestly engage with your physician and yourself and determine if you are in need of treatment for opioid abuse or addiction. Symptoms of addiction include
- The inability to control opioid use
- Uncontrollable cravings
- Drowsiness
- Changes in sleep habits
- Weight loss
- Frequent flu-like symptoms
- Decreased libido
- Lack of hygiene
- Changes in exercise habits
- Isolation from family or friends
- Stealing from family, friends or businesses
- New financial difficulties
If you feel that your use has developed into an addiction, you’ll need to look at more intensive treatment options. 12 Step programs, SMART Recovery, and inpatient treatment centers are a great place to start, but remember that everyone’s needs are different. At Tabula Rasa Retreat we’ve seen the remarkable ability of ibogaine to curb withdrawal symptoms, cancel cravings, and restore dopamine receptors in the brain to a pre-addicted state. But bear in mind there is no treatment that works for everyone. What’s important is that you find the one that meets your needs, and sets you free from your dependence on a dangerous drug.
Find New Ways To Manage Pain
You probably started using opioids because you were struggling with the effects of chronic pain. The pills initially offered relief, but if you’re honest with yourself, they aren’t working in the same way anymore. Opioids are fantastic for numbing the sensations of acute pain in the short term, as they dull the central nervous system’s reaction to and perceptions of the pain signals sent to the brain. But over time, tolerance builds up, and patients use opioids to avoid withdrawal symptoms rather than to manage pain.
A long term study found that there was no evidence of effectiveness for opioid use of greater than 3 months but increased risk of harms, including overdose, substance use disorder, fractures, and myocardial infarction. An epidemiological study showed that long-term opioid use is associated with dependence, addiction, poor self-rated health, inactivity, unemployment, higher health care utilization, and poor self-rated quality of life.
As we learn more about the results of treating chronic pain with opioids, we are realizing that there are far better approaches to dealing with it. Many physicians and researchers are realizing that a multi-faceted approach can work better than a strictly pharmacological one. Exercise, yoga, physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy have all been proven to significantly reduce chronic pain. As you break free from opioid dependence, we recommend developing a personalized treatment plan that deals with your pain in a positive and constructive fashion, rather than numbing it with drugs.
Why You Need To Stop
We’ve already established that long-term opioid use isn’t helping with your pain. You should also consider the myriad ways your life will improve if you end your dependence. You won’t feel sedated or confused. Struggles with constipation and nausea will be over. The cravings and anxieties caused by your need for pills will melt away. And physically, a new pain management regimen will likely ease your daily suffering once you’ve committed to quitting opioids.
You should also consider the fact that governments around the world are moving to limit the supply of opioids. If you aren’t already struggling to get your fix, you’ll soon be forced into a black market which comes with substantial legal risks, as well as the possibility of overdosing on fentanyl-based counterfeit pills.
There are even benefits to quitting opioids that probably haven’t have occurred to you yet. When you stop, you’ll actually become fully engaged and invested in the relationships that have suffered due to your substance misuse. You’ll get out of bed each morning bursting with energy. You’ll begin to rediscover the simple pleasures of life again, food will taste better, exercise will invigorate you, and you’ll find that suddenly you have the time and energy to pursue your interests. If you’re ready to step into a new life, free from opioid addiction, Tabula Rasa Retreat is here to help!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530