Opioids Hydrocodone anxieties, possible addiction

[GrimFandago]

Recently a friend of mine had some serious surgery and was given a lot of hydrocodone. He doesn't like them so he gave me a few. The only other opiates I had done before was a bottle of Oxy a couple years ago. I remember liking it a lot but I ran out and forgot about them. I took 40 mgs my first time and got profoundly high. It lasted till the next day even. I then took only .5mgs and while it wasn't earth shattering it as certainly enjoyable with weed. My drug taking is quite mild. I don't drink but smoke weed with friends most nights. I have never enjoyed any drug close to the first pills i took of hydro. I have two left but can get more quite easily. I hear it is very easy to addicted too and am nervous that it could be a problem. i would like to know about any ones experience with this and how to avoid addiction or if I should just avoid them completely.

 

[Spackeradder]

If you keep using these pills with regularity then the odds are stacked that you'll form a habit -- it'll both happen much slower and much faster than you would expect.

So I'd suggest you stop using, if you're serious about avoiding addiction.

If you must keep using but want to dodge a habit then never use more than once a week. That's my secret to success. Of course, for you, you can "get more quite easily", and therein lies the devil.

Just remember, a thousand young junkies started right smack-bang where you are right now.

 

[Rebelee]

Recently a friend of mine had some serious surgery and was given a lot of hydrocodone. He doesn't like them so he gave me a few. The only other opiates I had done before was a bottle of Oxy a couple years ago. I remember liking it a lot but I ran out and forgot about them. I took 40 mgs my first time and got profoundly high. It lasted till the next day even. I then took only .5mgs and while it wasn't earth shattering it as certainly enjoyable with weed. My drug taking is quite mild. I don't drink but smoke weed with friends most nights. I have never enjoyed any drug close to the first pills i took of hydro. I have two left but can get more quite easily. I hear it is very easy to addicted too and am nervous that it could be a problem. i would like to know about any ones experience with this and how to avoid addiction or if I should just avoid them completely.

If you are taking them just to get a high now and then I wouldn't think you would become addicted but if you begin taking a few every few days then your tolerance will build so you would need more to get the same "high". At that point you will become addicted because you will need more and more to achieve the same results. I have chronic pain so I've been there, done that and WDs are hell so I suggest avoid them completely especially if it's not a medication you need. I hope this isn't coming across as harsh but I wish I never had to have them in the first place and again tolerance just builds and builds so that is my 2 cents worth.

 

[beforethebeginning]

what is it that changes people from being able to use opiates now and then for years,
to eventually turn into an addict ?

 

[Snakevillon]

It's an invisible line by the time you realized you crossed it it's to late you never see it comeing

 

[beforethebeginning]

It's an invisible line by the time you realized you crossed it it's to late you never see it comeing

Is it the brain that slowly starts producing less and less dopamine,
the person becoming more and more depressed,

and so starts craving the opiates more and more?

 

[lolwhatzdrugs]

Is it the brain that slowly starts producing less and less dopamine,
the person becoming more and more depressed,

and so starts craving the opiates more and more?

No. Opioid addiction has more to do with physiological changes to opioid receptors, IE the way your body is affected by opioids.

The longer you take, the more you need, and eventually you hit the point where without opioids you go into acute withdrawal. Acute withdrawal is usually the reinforcer that has people coming back for more.

 

[beforethebeginning]

Yes, but you don't go into acute withdrawal if you don't take it more than 2 days in a week.
Yet people who are able to use 2 days in a week for years,

speak of suddenly "crossing the invisible line" and becoming a typical junkie.
I figure the reason for that must be psychological/neurological?

 

[lolwhatzdrugs]

Yes, but you don't go into acute withdrawal if you don't take it more than 2 days in a week.
Yet people who are able to use 2 days in a week for years,

speak of suddenly "crossing the invisible line" and becoming a typical junkie.
I figure the reason for that must be psychological/neurological?

The line can be psychological, but when referring to withdrawal inducing continued use, it is mainly physiological (but generally psychological as well, but not always, some people continue using not to get high, but to feel normal).

The line is crossed by taking it daily. You could take 10mg hydrocodone every 10th day forever and not experience withdrawals.

All of us addicts never saw this line, but we are all well aware where it was after we crossed it. I believe I fooled myself into thinking for a year or two that I wasn't really an addict. I am.

So your question as to what makes someone who used occasionally turn into a full fledged addict?

For me it started with hydrocodone, norcos, 90 a month, done in two weeks (two weeks on two off). I never felt particularly bad and just thought I was having fun. I slowly increased my dosage, oxycodone became available, then oxy and methadone, and it went on from there. I probably could have even pulled myself back from the brink of an emotional tragedy in my life hadn't occured. This tossed me over the edge into IV tar heroin use (the low of my life, my normal weight is 180-200, I weighed 138 pounds...), and not much caring if I woke up.

If opioids didn't have withdrawal symptoms (and post withdrawal symptoms, PAWS) like, say cannabis, most (probably 50%+) of us addicts could stop tomorrow and not look back. This unfortunately is not the case.

 

[oldhippytony]

OP asks “how to avoid addiction”

Hey OP…
Either you is or you ain’t.

Your friend “was given a lot of hydrocodone. He doesn't like them”
He ain’t.

You on the other hand, smoke weed most nights and are on a message board asking about using grapefruit juice to potentiate hydros (I saw your other post) and asking about how to avoid addiction.
You prolly is.

People who take the time to visit a message board asking how to avoid becoming an addict probably already are. Don't be too alarmed, however. Millions of addicts have their disease in complete remission and lead perfectly normal, productive lives.