How Does Opioid Addiction Work?

This is the first of many videos that will be uploaded to this channel dealing with the Opioid Crisis and methods and techniques to help end the addiction. I felt that most of the information on the web had a tendency to demonize those unfortunate enough to be addicted. I want to present accurate information that will help people understand how opioids work, and then how to use that information to stop.
I want feedback from everyone to make these videos as helpful and informative as possible. New videos will be uploaded and given several months for comments and suggestions. After the comment period, I will review the information, make changes to the video to take the suggestions into account, and then upload the updated version.
This information is based on my personal experience dealing with chronic pain. I was pushed onto a 75 mcg/hr fentanyl patch to treat the pain. After being told I needed to switch to Methadone for pain, I decided to stop taking all opioids. I was able to gradually step down to nothing. After being off the medication for about 6 months I went back to the doctor to get a pain medication that would not be so addictive and with as many side effects and restrictions. This showed them that I was able to completely eliminate them from my system, and that I still had chronic pain.
If you found the content helpful, please give this video a "Like".
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If you know someone addicted to opioids that could benefit from this video, please "Share" it with them.
I would love to hear any comments, suggestions, changes, or personal stories you would like to share.

[@biofeedback9576]

I would love to hear suggestions on how to improve this video to make it more helpful and informative. An upcoming video will cover techniques for easing withdrawal symptoms, and helping to ensure a successful lasting recovery. If you have any advice that you think would help others, please let me know about it.

[@kimafc]

Does doing a slow taper over 14-18 weeks to 1mg (99% reduction) allow any brain repair during the taper?

[@bridgettestewart469]

This is the best video I’ve found to understand what is happening in my body. Thank you for talking slowly because it helps to follow along with all the new information. I’m not sure how a video from seven years ago showed up for me now but I’m grateful for it! Maybe someone up above is helping out ❤

[@jimmybhoy]

Thanks for his channel I'm on methadone I live in Ireland

[@FitzSchlitz]

I’m getting off of 160mg of methadone. How are you doing with your journey with this stuff? ✌🏼❤️

[@qxmjdn]

I'm from Ireland too and on 75mls, but still take heroin every day, I've been on methadone over 20 years, got off it twice; and the withdrawals went on for 3 months and that was after I cut 5 mls a week down to 2.5 mls, and the depression was horrific after 90 days clean, of methadone, I went and bought heroin and back on de methadone; I did that on my own; but the ony other time I got off it; I felt great; cause I had 'supports' around me like NA and AA; it was still he'll coming off; but you need ppl "in yer corner" to talk too, otherwise you will pick up again. Is it normal in the USA for ppl to be on methadone over 20 years like it is here in Ireland?

[@crazybanana17]

what a great video. very informative. glad this was in my recommended videos

[@garychynne1377]

i stopped once by cutting down..i was taking percocet it took months. after 2 years i started again. cutting down by tiny amounts can work. good luck trying again.

[@kathleengivant-taylor2277]

This is a great informative video. Thank you

[@Akyla0177]

Informative video.

[@biofeedback9576]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@kategilpin5982]

I've taken prescribed hydrocodone for probably 15 years. Does that mean that I'm going to continue to be depressed for years after I quit? But here's my real question: I rashly stopped all at once nine days ago. And I haven't had any noticeable withdrawal symptoms. How can that be?? Is my long usage going to result in a delayed tsunami of hideous withdrawal??? I really need an answer here! And thank you--your videos are clear as crystal and enormously helpful. I probably better tell my doc that, rather than just stemming pain with gabapentin, I should do your taper. And I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to ease my severe osteoarthritis, complex scoliosis, and stenosis . . . . eeeee . . . ibuprofen is good, but I'm not sure how good.

[@seakseak5766]

How did it go?

[@kategilpin5982]

@@seakseak5766 Amazingly, it went fine. But my arthritis is bad enough that I have chosen to go back on the hydrocodone-they don't seem to have anything better to offer me for my chronic pain. Still, good to know that I won't have terrible withdrawals to go through when and if I choose to cut back.

[@afridijames2295]

Suboxone sucks as an addicton medication methadone is better im not addicted i take opiates for chronic pain i have severe spinal stenosis chronic back pain syndrom arthritis and broken fibia and tibia

[@crazybanana17]

i would improve the video by aiming for a more conversational tone, and speaking a little quicker.

[@biofeedback9576]

Thank you for the positive feedback. I am talking a little slower than I normally would because I wanted my voice to be clear even if English wasn't someones primary language. I will be uploading my next video in the next week about how to get off opioids, and I think I speak a little faster and use smaller breaks in between thoughts to help condense it. Hopefully that will be a bit better. I know the section in the middle of the video where I describe the way opioids affect neurotransmitters in the brain is on the technical side, but I think it is really important to understand. I was thinking that I could remove that 5 minute section, and make it a separate video. I could then replace it with a more basic explanation of how it works in this video, and then place a link to the detailed video for those wanting to know more in depth. Most of the future videos I have planned will be shorter, with less technical information. I will try to work on writing them with a more conversational tone. Even though the current video I am working on was read from a script, I think I was able to make it sound a bit more natural. Thanks for taking the time to help me make this better

[@kategilpin5982]

@@biofeedback9576 I think you're doing it exactly right!

[@bridgettestewart469]

This is the best video I’ve found to understand what is happening in my body. Thank you for talking slowly because it helps to follow along with all the new information. I’m not sure how a video from seven years ago showed up for me now but I’m grateful for it! Maybe someone up above is helping out ❤

[@timothybaxter9993]

Do you think it's possible if a person used long enough that their dopamine level never returns to normal?

[@biofeedback9576]

I think that practically everyone's brain can recover, and with enough time return dopamine levels to normal. The exception seems to be those that haven't led a clean and healthy lifestyle since quitting. The human body wants to repair itself, and if you give it the nutrients it needs, it will likely do so. After quitting it is vitally important that people eat regular nutritious meals, drink plenty of water and other good fluids, and exercise at least several times a week. Food and exercise both increase dopamine and other neurotransmitter levels. This will help the body naturally redirect the brains cravings from opioids to good food and exercise. The overwhelming number of people using for a few years should be back to normal levels within 2 or 3 months. Those using for decades may find it taking years to get back to normal. It's not scientific, but I get the feeling that it takes about one month for the brain to heal for every year opioids were used. I hope that this doesn't discourage anyone thinking about quitting. Things may not feel completely normal for a time after quitting, but I think it will feel much better than it did on average during the addiction. Recognizing that you will feel this way will help to not dwell on the situation, as it is temporary and you are making changes that will improve the quality of your life for the long term.

[@nicholasb2341]

@@biofeedback9576 thank you.

[@kategilpin5982]

@@biofeedback9576 I could live with 15 months!

[@inquisite472]

Lol dare...... You take drugssss or tell the truth.... Thats a dangerous game of truth or D. A. R. E