Opioids Weekend oxycodone use enough to develop physical addiction?

[DrDuke]

Is weekend oxycodone use of less than 40mg a night, consumed within approximately 4 hours enough to develop physical addiction over time? I'm fully aware that twice a week leads to three times a week which leads to four times a day, but that involves becoming mentally addicted. I'm just wondering if I'm putting myself at risk by using a couple times a week. If I am, I'd space out uses more. How many days should be kept between uses to avoid physical addiction?

Thanks to all for your concern and words of wisdom.

 

[Lindhorst]

That TOTALLY depends on you man. It depends on how your body metabolizes it and other things, but if you mean 5 clean days between 2 days of use, I'd say a very, very mild physical addiction if any at all. You've already mentioned what the most important advice would be. Just remember that pretty much 99% of all users starting thinking they wouldn't get a mental addiction either...

 

[allegator]

You'll have to better define what you mean by physical/mental addiction.

Tolerance will indeed build up with weekly use, not as fast as constant use but you will find yourself needing more to achieve the same effects. Acute withdrawal (feeling sick on Sunday/Monday after dosing the weekend before) will not be as likely to occur but if it does you'll notice it fairly quickly and, hopefully, be able to reduce your dosage accordingly. PAWS (post acute withdrawal symptoms) may build up without you noticing them. Where if you suddenly stop using on weekends you'll feel listless and irritable as if life isn't as enjoyable as it was before. This relates to "working for the weekend" below as well.

Addiction (whether mental or physical) is generally characterized by not being able to stop and it hurting your life, but different groups have different definitions. I'd suggest you read this thread to see what it is all about chemically in the brain.
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/566235-The-Basic-Biology-of-Drug-Addiction

"Working for the weekend" is diagnosed by some as a type of drug addiction. You can't stop thinking of just getting through the week to use drugs and not using over the weekend makes life boring and uninteresting etc. It really depends on what your point of view is centered around. Are drugs complimenting or supplementing. As I mentioned this, even casual use, can rewire your brain to expect the drugs on weekends and result in dysphoria if they are presented. Whether you classify them as PAWS (usually reserved for after a major addiction) or just not enjoying things quite as much when not on drugs, is irrelevant.

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What it all comes down to is opioids are chemicals which affect your brain and CNS. Trying to split that up into "mental" and "physical" effects is pretty hopeless and it is better to just consider the brain and body as a whole.

 

[Intrinsic man]

You'll have to better define what you mean by physical/mental addiction.

Tolerance will indeed build up with weekly use, not as fast as constant use but you will find yourself needing more to achieve the same effects. Acute withdrawal (feeling sick on Sunday/Monday after dosing the weekend before) will not be as likely to occur but if it does you'll notice it fairly quickly and, hopefully, be able to reduce your dosage accordingly. PAWS (post acute withdrawal symptoms) may build up without you noticing them. Where if you suddenly stop using on weekends you'll feel listless and irritable as if life isn't as enjoyable as it was before. This relates to "working for the weekend" below as well.

Addiction (whether mental or physical) is generally characterized by not being able to stop and it hurting your life, but different groups have different definitions. I'd suggest you read this thread to see what it is all about chemically in the brain.
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/566235-The-Basic-Biology-of-Drug-Addiction

"Working for the weekend" is diagnosed by some as a type of drug addiction. You can't stop thinking of just getting through the week to use drugs and not using over the weekend makes life boring and uninteresting etc. It really depends on what your point of view is centered around. Are drugs complimenting or supplementing. As I mentioned this, even casual use, can rewire your brain to expect the drugs on weekends and result in dysphoria if they are presented. Whether you classify them as PAWS (usually reserved for after a major addiction) or just not enjoying things quite as much when not on drugs, is irrelevant.

-----

What it all comes down to is opioids are chemicals which affect your brain and CNS. Trying to split that up into "mental" and "physical" effects is pretty hopeless and it is better to just consider the brain and body as a whole.

I would agree with many things you have said, however I disagree on a couple. Firstly, your tolerance will NOT go up if you are smart, and use correctly. I have been recreationaly using opiates once a week for about a year now. Once a week and ONLY once a week. My tolerance has gone up only when I made exceptions to that rule, but a subsequent 2 week break always brings my tolerance down about 5 mg. What I am trying to say is simple: If you want to continue using opiates while still enjoying your life, you will stick to that schedule.

"Working for the weekend" is very interesting to me, I have never heard that. It makes a lot of sense. A lot of times I find myself thinking about monday (the day I usually take them, I find it makes mondays much better ) and wishing it would get here sooner. Maybe I am just being stubborn, but I don't consider this a drug addiction. I am in completely in control. The reason I think about it so much, is because I enjoy it so much. I have similar anticipatory feeling for a concert, or a date, disney world, etc. However, if I ever began to feel physical discomfort, anxiety, or depression, I would probably be down for the count. It is for this reason that I feel a physical addiction is the primary and worst kind of addiction. A mental addiction in most cases will lead to a physical addiction, but in of itself is not as debilitating or harmful.

 

[benzoheadplus44]

Thats what moderation is for the most part, some can... some, and most can't use moderation.

 

[Starshowers]

Weekend use of opiates will not make you physically addicted! Most people can even handle 14 days of once daily recreational use in a row. I have used opiates for 5 years, had some long binges, never been addicted physically. (Oxy/heroin/hydromorphone - all intranasal, except oxy, oral)

 

[allegator]

Firstly, your tolerance will NOT go up if you are smart, and use correctly. I have been recreationaly using opiates once a week for about a year now. Once a week and ONLY once a week. My tolerance has gone up only when I made exceptions to that rule, but a subsequent 2 week break always brings my tolerance down about 5 mg. What I am trying to say is simple: If you want to continue using opiates while still enjoying your life, you will stick to that schedule.

I'm glad that you haven't developed a tolerance with your usage, but I have read many threads where people have had their tolerance increase with weekly or even monthly use. Blanket statements can be dangerous depending on the situation and should be avoided as much as possible. I'll admit that the less you use the better and that perception of the high may be playing a role in some of these situations, but as always your mileage may vary.

Maybe I am just being stubborn, but I don't consider this a drug addiction. I am in completely in control. The reason I think about it so much, is because I enjoy it so much.

I agree. The diagnosis of addiction is merely a tool that can be used to help people in similar situations and to develop standard treatment. I was introduced to the concept of "weekend addiction" in high school where people's lives would revolve around binge drinking on Friday/Saturday night to the point where that was really all they lived for. Using this definition though the whole human race would be addicted to sex though .

Weekend use of opiates will not make you physically addicted! Most people can even handle 14 days of once daily recreational use in a row. I have used opiates for 5 years, had some long binges, never been addicted physically. (Oxy/heroin/hydromorphone - all intranasal, except oxy, oral)

Good to know! After reading this I now know it's okay to stay practically comatose on methadone from 5pm Friday until Monday morning without any worry. Thanks! Maybe over next Christmas I'll try 8mg of bupe a day for two weeks as well!

 

[DrDuke]

Thanks guys, really great responses. To clarify I was regarding true physical withdraw that constitutes a chemical dependence of the body. One which would result in physical withdrawl symtoms like getting ill or shaking. This is as compared to an addiction that is only within your consciousness, which would affect your emotions. (wishing you were high etc.) Allthough both are important and I like to learn as much about the symptoms of both as I can.

"working for the weekend" is one of the most interesting addictions I've heard of which I believe has good merit. Will post back again when I have time as it's 1:30 here and I"m tired.

Also:
Was glad to hear some stories of people who successfully use only recreationaly. With all the horror stories to be found good news is always welcome.