I don't see tramadol as recreational, but some people get kicks out of it I guess. If you are talking about a maintenance thing, then stick with subs. Tram can have some nasty withdrawals if abused. It has some SSRI properties as well to add to the mind-fuck of the ensuing withdrawal. It can also cause seizures at therapeutic dosages. Tram is a shit opioid IMO, so don't waste your time. Subs have a long-lasting withdrawal but it is pretty reliable. I think tram is more dangerous for a number of reasons.