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Misc Do you find nicotine/smoking helps opioid withdrawal or makes it worse?

ChemicallyEnhanced

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
11,213
Location
UK
Generally, IME, I find stimulants make it worse and sedatives help....however, this is no help here as nicotine is uniquely both.

Personally, I'd TRY and smoke less, but usually smoke MORE just to try and pass the time. But when I tried to research, I found some anecdotal evidence online that some hospitals/rehabs don't allow smoking (Sooomeimes I think they offer a patch as NRT, though) as in studies, people who smoke while going through [either involuntary withdrawal or deliberate detox] opioid withdrawal tend to report more intense withdrawal symptoms* than those who do not.
But I started vaping recentlyish (mostly just when I CBA to go outside to smoke or run out of cigarettes) and personally I think smoking/vaping a lot MORE than usual actually helps me relax more.

*IMO, this could also be related to smokers being more likely to use higher doses of opioids and therefor WOULD have more severe withdrawal
 
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