Thank you for the advice. It means alot.
I hate to say but I had a moment of weakness and took Vicodin again for a day. I know the sub blocks it from the brain I just feel like I failed. I feel so lost and aimless which I know is part of the mental symptoms it just makes everything that much more difficult. Im sure I'll be back on here seeking encouragement and support.
Unless it is strictly your goal to want to be absolutely clean, don't ever feel guilty when slipping up. Actually whether you truly want to be clean or not, don't feel guilty either way. I know, easier said than done. The idea of being 'clean' is just some societal moral that does nothing but divide & stigmatize people. If you enjoy drugs and always have, you most likely always will and the temptation will always be there. It's nothing to be ashamed of & it really only makes sense to try for 100% sobriety if the drugs were impacting your life in very negative ways. Other than the obvious addiction, withdrawal stuff, opioids are relatively benign drugs and you can spin this around and be glad you aren't doing a neurotoxin like meth or some other hideous drug.

I am on bupe myself but not because I want to be clean, but because I wanted access to medicines that allow me to function without having to be a criminal and go through withdrawal whenever I can't score. I crave every single day for heroin and the full agonists tho. I'm just not willing to continue breaking the law & don't have the kind of money to continue a daily heroin habit anyway. People in my lifetime have bugged me about "when will you get off subs and get clean" and I always straight up told them I had no plans on ever being clean from opioids. In fact, if I could do it, I'd love to go live in Switzerland and get access to legal diacetylmorphine daily.
Opioids were once used as psychiatric drugs and there is no doubt that they are good at helping one feel at ease and at peace. I consider them fantastic and essential medications, that shouldn't be demonized and made illegal. Once you have felt how these drugs can stomp out many psychiatric ills, it's hard to ever see a life without them. I have accepted that I believe I need them in order to live a functional and somewhat happy life. So there is no "being clean" for me. Although I am now 5 years off alcohol after having got on bupe.

And that's one drug I can say I do not crave whatsoever (alcohol I mean). That's an example of a shitty drug that was ruining my life in many negative ways because of how obnoxious, emotional &idiotic it makes people. You couldn't pay me to drink alcohol again lol And I realized eventually that I was an alcoholic for 15-20 years, merely because I used it when I had no opioids or out of pure boredom & peer pressure, but that I didn't enjoy the buzz or the effects from it at all, so it was essentially a pointless substance to continue pursuing.
I've been a heroin / opioid addict for the past 12 years. The last 4-5 were mostly on buprenorphine though, with some vacations here or there.
And I was/have been a poly-drug addict for the past 20 years now. Everything from weed, alcohol & meth to inhalants, psychedelics, over-the-counter drugs & prescription, etc.. So I know all to well this world of addiction.
We all do the best we can and I bet you are doing better than you give yourself credit for. Hang in there.

You are human and it is only natural as humans that we would like to experience peace, relaxation and feelings of well being, even if having to take a pill is what's going to get you there. If being 100% clean is your absolute goal, I would recommend making sure to keep up with therapy and of course things like exercise and other ways to get your natural feel good chemicals flowing. Along with many distractions. And never feel ashamed if you slip. You can always clear your slate and start over again. Goals take time. Your priorities and the way you think will change as you age too, I've noticed. It may be hard now but give yourself some time and in a few years you'll know what I mean. I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
