• Select Your Topic Then Scroll Down
    Alcohol Bupe Benzos
    Cocaine Heroin Opioids
    RCs Stimulants Misc
    Harm Reduction All Topics Gabapentinoids
    Tired of your habit? Struggling to cope?
    Want to regain control or get sober?
    Visit our Recovery Support Forums

Opioids How to avoid addiction to other opioids

headoff

Greenlighter
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
13
Hi,

I take codeine recreationally a couple of times a month. Same dose each time as I can avoid tolerance with infrequent use.

I've been warned that codeine often leads to addiction to other opioids like heroin.
I could never imagine myself doing heroin and the idea really scares me, nonetheless - the warning is there.

Does anyone have any advice to avoid this leading to harder drugs?

Thanks
 
Don't do them. That's really it. The minute I got a taste of powerful opiates, I was mentally hooked. Nothing will compare to the euphoria.

Granted, you know yourself better than anyone else. There are people who use opioids responsibly, but I feel that number is much smaller than those who don't, especially when you start toying with oxycodone, morphine, oxymorphone, heroin, etc.
 
Honestly, the only real way to avoid physical dependence and mental addiction is to not experiment with opiates/opioids.

It's like spinning a roulette wheel and hoping that it doesn't land on an odd number; sure, there's a good chance that it won't, but there's also a good chance that it will, and you won't know what will happen until you spin. There's a lot you stand to lose, and not very much that you stand to win...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's a chance you could experiment with opiates/opioids and not become dependent or addicted, and that would be a good thing for sure, but even still, it's not like you would have won or gained very much. If you do become dependent and addicted, well then, you're in for a world of hurt and misery...

And as someone who has done just about every opiate that he can get his hands on, there's really very little difference between sniffing a bag of dope and eating some oxy... so, they're all pretty comparable, pharmaceutical or not. It's really more the ROA that makes the difference, although I'm sure that many here will disagree with me. An opiate like oxy or heroin, when it's injected, seems to become a whole new animal.
 
Last edited:
The moment you start depending on opiates for a sense of security or happiness is when your in trouble IMO. If you are already questioning your codeine use, than you should try and quit now while you're ahead. There is no "trick" to avoiding opiate addiction, be it physical or psychological. These drugs are very subtle in the way that they get their claws into you. Whatever you might be medicating now, will seem so insignificant in the years to come if you do start using heavier narcotics. Eventually you wont be using for any other reason than to get high, or to stay straight, and similarly, you'll spend thte majority of your time thinking about dope/oxy (pick your poison)...or at least that has been my experience.
 
Thanks for your advice guys.
BTW I've never met anyone that does heroin or any opioids and wouldn't know the first place to get them even if i wanted to.. if that helps.
I've only done codeine four times in the last two months or so. Some of you suggested to try and quit now. I would have no problem with that as I've had it so irregularly and at low doses that I don't think I'm physically or mentally addicted. My want for it feels more like the want you would feel for a joint or to see a new movie that came out. It seems very mild. I had a couple of great experiences with it and I don't want these to be the only ones of my life with it, but on the other hand I definitely don't want to do it regularly and definitely WON'T. I just wanted to find a middle ground.
 
Here's an example.. you're in a room, someone offers you some heroin.. and you say.. "no."

That's how you avoid doing heroin.

Listen to this man. The only reason I can stay away from hard drugs completely is because I haven't tried most of them in the first place. If you don't know what you're missing, you'll never crave it.

Once you set new bar of happiness in your head, it's hard to enjoy sober life as 100% as it was before, since you'll always be thinking, "oh man, this is so fun, but this would be even better with some insert drug here."

The one thing that really got me with drug education in High School is that the ex-addict was totally honest with us. He basically glorified drugs and got us interested, and got us trusting him since we knew he wasn't bullshitting us. The one thing that stuck with me most was when he explained cravings to us. He said that no matter how long you're clean, if you get a trigger, like a song on the radio you used to associate with the experience, you'll crave it. That's quite a monkey to carry with you the rest of your life.
 
If you were to take heroin/morphine/whatever intravenously, then nobody would stick a needle into your vein but you. The answer to this question is as simple as the answer to the question "how not to get addicted to DrugName?". Mind you codeine is not going to satisfy you indefinitely and if you know there's something one step above, then you may go for it in the future completely not thinking about your current deliberations. Thus, as a matter of fact there is no sure thing that would drag you away when there's an occasion in the future and when codeine doesn't satisfy you any more. Anyway, I doubt that you get a serious taste of opioid high right now using codeine a couple of times a month so it's a relatively distant situation when you feel a need to jump onto something stronger.

At this point it's just keeping it all as real as possible.

BTW, this all is coming from a person who started from codeine, ended up stuck on terribly strong synthetic opioid, and eventually was forced to get on methadone. And it's been a few years day in day out, two doses per 24hrs. I know how hard it is to learn from other people's experiences when you're already stuck on codeine, but whatever - trust me, you would never want to be in my situation and there's a lot of people who's been through much worse.
 
Last edited:
If you were to take heroin/morphine/whatever intravenously, then nobody would stick a needle into your vein but you. The answer to this question is as simple as the answer to the question "how not to get addicted to DrugName?". Mind you codeine is not going to satisfy you indefinitely and if you know there's something one step above, then you may go for it in the future completely not thinking about your current deliberations. Thus, as a matter of fact there is no sure thing that would drag you away when there's an occasion in the future and when codeine doesn't satisfy you any more. Anyway, I doubt that you get a serious taste of opioid high right now using codeine a couple of times a month so it's a relatively distant situation when you feel a need to jump onto something stronger.

At this point it's just keeping it all as real as possible.

BTW, this all is coming from a person who started from codeine, ended up stuck on terribly strong synthetic opioid, and eventually was forced to get on methadone. And it's been a few years day in day out, two doses per 24hrs. I know how hard it is to learn from other people's experiences when you're already stuck on codeine, but whatever - trust me, you would never want to be in my situation and there's a lot of people who's been through much worse.

Thanks for the advice.
so you think I just can't use codeine anymore? even though its super occasionally?
I tend to get bored with things VERY quickly (even if addictive eg: smoking)
Is there a chance that when codeine doesn't "satisfy me" I'll just give it up?.. seeing as I don't have access to harder opioids anyway.
 
When codeine doesn't satisfy you, what makes you think you'll give it up and not move on to hydrocodone or oxycodone or a more powerful opioid?

Picture this hypothetical future scene: you're bored of codeine because of your tolerance, and want to feel that warm opiate high again, and your friend had just broken his arm and received a prescription for Percocet (oxycodone) or Dilaudid (hydromorphone).

You don't have access to harder opioids now, but these things are legally purchased from pharmacies and are more or less easily obtained on the black market. How can you be absolutely sure you'll never come across a source? It's better to nip this habit in the bud; you're lucky you started with codeine and not oxycodone. Trust us, the opiate game is something you don't want to get yourself involved in.
 
Just dont ever try it. Dont convince your self you are just going to try it once to experience it. That is the biggest lie you can tell your self.
 
When codeine doesn't satisfy you, what makes you think you'll give it up and not move on to hydrocodone or oxycodone or a more powerful opioid?

Picture this hypothetical future scene: you're bored of codeine because of your tolerance, and want to feel that warm opiate high again, and your friend had just broken his arm and received a prescription for Percocet (oxycodone) or Dilaudid (hydromorphone).

You don't have access to harder opioids now, but these things are legally purchased from pharmacies and are more or less easily obtained on the black market. How can you be absolutely sure you'll never come across a source? It's better to nip this habit in the bud; you're lucky you started with codeine and not oxycodone. Trust us, the opiate game is something you don't want to get yourself involved in.

Thanks for your advice.
What I had hoped to do was stick to a very strict 120mg (max) with AT LEAST a 2 week gap between doses, which has been working so far.
This way I shouldn't build up a tolerance and crave stronger doses/opiates right?
 
My friend you are in the very rare part of the boat where the captain's cabins are, you are on the upper deck with a great view. in other words, I envy where you are. TRUST ME ON THIS, if you screw around with harder opiates, you WILL find one you like too much, or find one that likes YOU too much. It may take a long time, but it will happen. My short story: about 15-20 years ago I got my first hydrocodone buzz. It was nice. I didnt do it often since I didnt really know anyone who had them for sale. Maybe five years later, I met up with a guy who was scoring H and had a scrip for methadone. So I did those. Snorting at first, little bits (a bag would last a week). Fast forward six months, I cant breathe from my nose, 3 bag a day habit,so I started injecting. Within a year I had what many call a "dealer's habit" (tho I didnt deal, just had lots of disposable income at the time). 20-30 bag a day habit. Boy that SUCKED to kick, but I did it (after a nasty OD). Stayed clean a while, then met up with this chick who was getting roxies (IR oxycodone) at a GOOD price. Off to the races again. Kicked that habit when her dealer lost his PM doc. Clean again a year. Then met up with that same dealer, he had hydromorphone this time. That was over a year ago, still fighting the opiate demon.

I look young for my age still, but my insides are wrecked. Imagine a guy almost 40 who looks 25 but has the guts of a geriatric patient. Not saying you will wind up like me, well, actually, yeah,I am saying that. I dont know of anyone who can chip opiates except for an exceedingly few who have no connects or are always broke as shit or both. Chances are if you 'meet a guy' who can get you x opiate, you'll meet someone else, and someone else, and before you know it your cell phone has more dealer's numbers than friends or family.

The worst mistake you can make is thinking you are above this. That's the one I made. I was young and arrogant and thought I could beat anyone or anything. Remember, there is always someone stronger than you, and there are little pills or bags that can bring you to your knees.

Do not curiosity get to you. And Ill leave you with one of my favorite song lyrics, from Alice in Chains:

"There's no going back - to the place - we started from" - All Secrets Known
 
Hey man, this is my first post here, but these forums have proved themselves useful to me, so I decided to give posting a go. I've been having the same thoughts as you, and have begun to dabble in drugs I personally never thought I would do (including pharm opiates, never H). For a handful of months now, I've been experimenting, and now have stopped to question my use. The conclusion I've come to is that everything is about priorities. The infrequency of your use leads me to believe you have strong priorities. If you feel as though you use in order to escape a life of insecurity and pain, that's where trouble tends to start IMO. That's not to say everyone and anyone couldn't become addicted to something, but I think it makes a genuine difference. I also believe that the human brain is more powerful than any substance. If you put your brain to work on something, you'd be surprised as to what you can accomplish. So if you have a strong sense of what is actually important in life, and what is simply recreation, you should be fine. If you feel use is becoming too frequent, know yourself enough to step back and take a break. I realize this is harder for some people than others, but trust yourself enough to know where you fit on that scale, and use accordingly. With a good head on your shoulders, anything can be accomplished. Good luck with everything, and I hope I helped in some way!
 
wow some really great advice. you guys might have just saved me a really rough time through opiates.

so just to conclude: no one has any experience, method, or rules that allow occasional doses of codeine at certain intervals/doses?
 
Yeah I mean everything's good on paper, the only issue is if you fall into the trap of opiates, you would stray from the plan. If you stick to using your normal dose of codeine twice a month, you should be fine. The trick is really limiting yourself. If you do limit yourself. There's no reason you should be worried. Its tougher than it seems, however.
 
Thanks for the advice.
so you think I just can't use codeine anymore? even though its super occasionally?
I tend to get bored with things VERY quickly (even if addictive eg: smoking)
Is there a chance that when codeine doesn't "satisfy me" I'll just give it up?.. seeing as I don't have access to harder opioids anyway.

I don't even know why you take codeine. But usually people don't take opioids for fun.
 
Lots o people take em for fun lol. It just stops being for fun pretty quick

Don't do it. U always stray from the plan as was said many many times. We all thought we could control it too
 
Top