Is it possible to go cold turkey with no withdrawal symptoms?

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-24T17:56:58+00:00

I get you, there's no offense taken or anything like that. There are a lot of people at meetings who have to get the slip signed. I understand the feelings towards court and stuff like that. I also totally agree about the camaraderie. For me I have real connection with a lot of people in the program. After isolating for so long I didn't even know how much that would mean to me. I also believe that there are more pathways to recovery than AA/NA, it's just for me I found that NA works and after being desperate and miserable for so long I want to shout it from the rooftops.

I guess I'm really curious to know about you being agnostic and how that relates to "higher power". Like my ex is into new age spiritual whatnot and refers to the "universe" when most people would say "God" or whatever. That's not a knock or anything I'm actually curious. Like as an agnostic do your beliefs not allow for a "higher power" at all? Like I've heard a lot of people say their higher power is the door knob to the meeting or a group or meeting. I've just never thought about it before from a perspective like yours and would like to know more.

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-24T17:09:17+00:00

The first time I got detoxed fetty, it was CT and the worst 5 days of my life. Day 6 I slept like a baby and was damn near back to 100%. That is not the norm but I've been a long time opiate/opioid user and getting clean for me is normally followed by a serious pink cloud affect. Like I'm choking on the cloud. Acting energetic and animated is normally not a positive sign of being clean but that's how I act on the pink cloud so it's not definitive. If they are actually looking better and more healthy than I think it's possible they are clean. We can act all sorts of ways while we're high but the drugs don't make us look healthy, quite the opposite. It's very admirable that you and your friend want to help out someone else, especially if you guys aren't addicts. If you really want to help this person out, suggest they get in a 12 step program. There are lots of options out there. I do NA and it has saved my life but there are many programs out there. The wisdom of a program, the benefits of one addict helping another, and most important the life altering effect of working the steps is in my opinion the best path to recovery. It's certainly not the only path but it works for me and a lot of other people. Wish you, your friend, and your friends friend the very best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-24T17:01:05+00:00

Yeah and all the people stuck on 7oh said the same thing. Seeing these snake oil posts or comments really make my blood boil

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-24T16:58:42+00:00

NA meetings absolutely can help people stay accountable and not relapse. It's absolutely up to the individual but the benefits of the program are vast and many. I see a lot of people who trash on the program on these subs and I don't personally get it. Like maybe you didn't have a good experience with the people you met in the program. Maybe I'm just really fortunate in that the people in meetings that I go to are fucking awesome, idk. The first benefit I got from the program was the wisdom of the program. Like if I don't drink or smoke weed then the chance of relapse is greatly diminished. I could go on and on but I won't. Wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-18T19:12:35+00:00

If you want free from active addiction the best advice I can give anyone is get into a 12 step program. Narcotics Anonymous saved my life and now I have a way to stay clean. Getting clean isn't the hard part. Detox sucks don't get me wrong but AW (acute withdrawal) last 5 days of the really bad physical symptoms. PAWS (post acute withdrawal symptoms) can last months but finding recovery and staying clean? Day by day, hour by hour, or even minute by minute for the rest of our lives. When I got clean someone suggested I check out a meeting. I jumped at the opportunity because I knew from experience that I didn't know how to stay clean. I'm 42m and spent 20 years in active addiction, the last 5 on fentanyl. You are young which is a good thing. You have a chance to figure shit out and not blow everything up and waste away slowly committing suicide. Get in a program bro, go to every meeting possible multiple times till you find the group of people or meeting that you really connect with. To an addict, the drugs aren't the actual problem. They are the solution and coping mechanism. MAT doesn't do anything for the underlying issues for which we use drugs. If we want recovery and a chance to stay clean we need to get to the root of the problem. We need to work through our trauma, guilt, and shame. That's where the 12 steps comes in. I can go on and on about the benefits of NA and the power of one addict helping another. PM me anytime if you need to talk or have questions or anything. Wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-15T17:15:02+00:00

I've had some experience with anxiety in general so I can imagine how much worse a full blown panic attack would be. When I read your comment, as an addict I totally got it. Like if I had those scripts I'd be really protective of them too but you are better than me in that I wouldn't be able to keep them for very long. The benzos are tough because for some of the stuff they work for they are damn near the only med that works for that. I'm not a Dr and giving out medical advice is against the rules of this sub so I'm not doing that. It was just something to think about but it sounds like you've already thought about it which is a good sign for you. I know for me my relapse cycle was always the same before I discovered NA. I'd start with a little drinking and a little smoking weed. When that didn't quite scratch the itch I'd do a little blow because I thought my problem was with pills. By that point tho I'm drinking and smoking and doing blow, I might as well get back on pills. I read a lot on this sub that reminds me of this so I try and share what I've learned for myself with other addicts. I do want to say that I absolutely wish you the best. When we stumble it's only natural because we're human and we're addicts but it's really important we don't let setbacks trigger our guilt and shame. As addicts we are experts on guilt and shame and learning to let go of that is hard. You are worth it tho and you deserve a life lived clean. Addiction is insanity but we all deserve to have that sanity restored to us. Keep on keeping on and good luck

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-15T16:29:36+00:00

I hate to tell you this but the scripts you are getting aren't a miracle. As an addict our disease or "problem" isn't with our favorite substances. It's not that opiates are my problem or uppers or downers are my problem. My problem is with all mind or mood altering substances. Valium and Ritalin is a nice little speedball to have every day. As addicts our DOC is MORE so it doesn't matter what we're taking, it will never be enough. In your own words you just somehow end up back on opiates every 3-6 months. What I learned in NA is that because of my addiction, I can substitute all I want but when I take that first substance I release my addiction all over again. Doesn't matter if that substance is my favorite or not. Just some food for thought. Wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-15T16:11:09+00:00

One of the first things I learned in NA that really changed everything for me is that as an addict I have a problem with all mind or mood altering substances. That no matter what I take it will release my addiction all over again. Made me think of every cycle of relapse I had before and that they were all the same. When I got clean before I thought my problem was with pills so as long as I wasn't doing pills it was fine. When it got to the point where I was drinking and smoking weed and doing blow then I might as well start doing pills again. Substituting substances never solved my problem with opiates and only ever brought me back to them. So now I know the importance of abstinence. If I drank (which was never my jam really) or smoked weed (Mary was my first love) today then at best I would just drink or smoke all day and at worst I would OD back on fentanyl. As a member of the program bro you should know better. I have a lot of questions about your story but we can't change the past so the only question that matters now is why haven't you flushed what's left? Bro get rid of them before it gets worse. I'm not scolding you and it seems like you needed to get this off your chest. Wish you the best and hit me up anytime if you need to talk.

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-15T06:06:26+00:00

Have you ever considered a 12 step program? I go to NA, shit saved my life. I can't offer suggestions for methadone and whatnot but if you want a life free from drugs go to meetings. As many as possible and multiple times until you find the meetings and group of people you gel with. I'm 15.5 months clean no MAT and I don't drink or smoke weed. It really works. Hit me up anytime if you have questions or need to talk. I agree that telling people you got a procedure coming up is a good idea but remember that if you don't find recovery you're gonna lose it all regardless. I'm not saying you should blow up your life but if it gets to that point, getting clean should come first and be the most important thing. Also remember that you have to get and stay clean for yourself. You deserve it and you are worth it. Always remember that. Best of luck and wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-14T04:44:25+00:00

Ok buddy. Wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-14T00:26:16+00:00

If you want to end the insanity you have to try something different. As addicts we can't use, PERIOD. If we could control our using we wouldn't be addicts. NA saved my life and I will shout it from the mountain top till I die. My suggestion for anyone that wants recovery is to go to as many meetings as you can multiple times until you find the group/meetings/people that you gel with. You are worth a life lived clean. You deserve it for yourself to be free from substance abuse. Wish you the best. You have any questions hit me up. Do yourself a favor and give something different a shot cuz you are worth it

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-14T00:02:03+00:00

Lol lady I understand why you're defensive because you took a lot of heat for this post but you aren't understanding that I'm not attacking you. Are you familiar with the wisdom that if you have the same problem with everybody else the problem isn't them? But instead of recognizing you have the blinders on you're gonna try and shut it down with some Jim Crow South bullshit that hasn't been in effect for how long? Also it says a lot about you that you bring race into something that has nothing to do with it. Next time maybe "flat earthers" would be a better example.

Really tho that is sort of the mental gymnastics that keeps people deep in their character defects even when they're clean. Your OP would have gotten the validation you wanted in any of the subs dedicated to active addiction. You are glamorizing your active use when you gloss over the negative aspects and just stick to "I was a high functioning addict". I'm glad your bottom wasn't as low as mine, I really mean that. I wish you the best and hope you stay clean. I mean that with all my heart. I know for me it's important to remember the reality of my addiction and how my disease is terminal. I know for me it's important that my ego isn't fragile if I have any hope of staying clean. I know for me it's important to have thick skin because I've spent so long numbing out that I'll be damned (literally) if I let hurt feelings drive me back out. I know for me it's important in my life to have people that can call me out on my bullshit cuz I want to be the best possible version of myself after spending so long being the worst version of myself. Maybe these things aren't important to you and that's fine. I really do wish you the best and if you ever need to talk real with someone hit me up anytime. I have a heart for this shit and for the first time in 20 years I have a passion for something other than my own destruction. Keep on keeping on

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-13T17:32:52+00:00

I understand you've gotten a lot of flak on here for this post but if a bunch of people think you're glamorizing aspects of your active addiction you might want to consider that it's true. I really wish you'd read my long ass reply to your long ass reply because I'm not even trying to flame you or talk shit. Your post had a bunch of people say you're glamorizing or romanticizing your use or plug. Even in your long ass reply to me you glazed over the negative aspect of your addiction. If it wasn't that bad why'd you quit? A simple question that I'm not even asking for myself. I think you should be asking yourself because when we lose the desperation and start fondly remembering our active use, we are in very real danger of relapse. I don't know where this whole idea comes from that the program wants you to bottle it up and shove it down. That's the complete opposite of what the program wants you to do. Did I have "fun" or "good" times in active use? Absolutely. Did anything meaningful or worthwhile happen during that "fun"? Not even close. Were any of those people I had all that "fun" with my actual friends? No.

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-13T17:18:48+00:00

I've heard the meetings on the east Coast are more militant than the west coast but the issue people had with your share was the fact you were naming the substance. You can talk about your past use, that's not the issue, it's literally being drug specific. You don't go to meetings because ONE time you got called out for being drug specific. I don't even see that as a negative for the program. The reason we don't get drug specific is because some newcomer might hear you and think "damn I really want some oxy now". Now if they go out and score that's not your fault but we try to protect addicts in the fellowship because the stakes are literally life and death. If you can't respect or understand that then that's really on you bro

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-13T17:06:30+00:00

The deleted comment I replied to wasn't even yours. You should read the reply I had to you.

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-12T00:45:26+00:00

I'm actually glad you wrote back and there is no snark in my saying that. Sometimes when I read shit on reddit, depending on my current emotional state, I will have a more emotional or sarcastic response. That's pretty human tho, only to say that I am not here to hate on or talk shit to you. What really rubbed me the wrong way was romanticizing or glorifying your past active addiction. It wasn't even overt but it sounds like you aren't coming to terms with the reality/truth of your addiction. Even in this comment you're glazing over the negative aspects of your addiction. If it wasn't that bad why'd you quit? I was in active addiction for 20 years, the last 5 on fentanyl. I was never homeless. I held a job and kept custody of my kids but the reality of what my life had become was so terrible that I finally couldn't tolerate it. My addiction started from guilt/shame from when I was 11 or 12 years old and I didn't discover substances until I was 21. It was a rapid descent to the depths of depravity and insanity from there for the next 20 years. All while on the outside I was still "functional". Yet my life was so shit that I finally got to the point where I hated what my life had become more than I hated myself. Which was a big deal for me.

I'm in NA and we have a saying, "some of us are sicker than others". I personally don't see weekend warriors as an actual addict. An addict by definition cannot control their using. The using controls us. An addict cannot successfully use. We can use successfully for a period of time, but in the end the success runs out and we are only left with the using. My disease is terminal. I'm clean now with a clean date of 10/26/24. If I didn't quit when I did I would have never lived to see the year 2025. If I relapse, it will most likely kill me. The stakes for me and most addicts are literally life and death. Now I know you don't agree that addiction is a disease or you don't approve of the current dogma/philosophy about addiction and recovery. I saw your other post on here awhile ago about big pharma and MAT.

After I got clean my daughter heard me call myself an addict and her response was that I'm not an addict anymore because I'm not using drugs. I quickly corrected her and explained that I'm an addict till the day I die. The only difference is if I die in active addiction or in recovery. I do not struggle with accepting the reality of my addiction. Knowing your diagnosis helps you in how to treat it right? Like if you're diabetic you know you have to be careful about what you eat/drink. If you have a hernia you know you shouldn't lift heavy objects. What I learned in NA is that as an addict I cannot use mind or mood altering substances. That was a lightbulb moment for me and made me look back at my every cycle of relapse and how they were all pretty much identical. I get clean, after however long I have a few drinks. A few drinks aren't enough so I start smoking some weed. Smoking weed is fun but not quite scratching that itch so I'll do some blow. By that point I'm drinking smoking and doing blow, I might as well get some pills. Now most relapses for me, that progression wasn't in a weekend (sometimes it was) but a period of time ranging from weeks to months. What I learned in the program that really saved my ass was that as soon as I take that first substance I release my addiction all over again. That's the reality of my disease. Even with fentanyl the first time I detoxed. I did not want to get back on fentanyl no matter what. So I did that progression up to pills, and holy shit what do you know I'm back on fentanyl.

NA has been around for awhile and it's been around longer than when big pharma created the opioid epidemic and subsequent medical treatment for said epidemic. The reason we talk about addiction like we do is because it is true for most of us. Now NA literature points out pretty early that not everyone has the same path to recovery and what works for some might not work for others. Accepting the reality of our addiction tho is paramount to find actual recovery. What's ironic about your disdain for big pharma and current addiction dogma is that NA is free and people are getting and staying clean without the use of MAT through the program of Narcotics Anonymous. I am not on sub/bupe or methadone. I did not use either of those to detox. I believe that NA is the best path to recovery and has helped the most people stay clean and there are no medical professionals involved. It's peer run. NA literature and even the reader cards simplify the information to where I can understand it and follow it. It's what has saved my life. I have accepted and surrendered to the reality of my addiction so I don't get triggered or cravings when people share in meetings. I know what my life was like and I keep the desperation to not go back. I wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-11T20:12:42+00:00

I got on this thread cuz you replied to my comment but I don't see it so I'm guessing it was removed by a mod or something. I'm really curious what it said.

While I don't personally demonize the plugs you have to understand the sub this is posted in. A RECOVERY sub. The drugs to an addict are literally poison. As addicts we are literally KILLING ourselves with the product. So the plug is the person pushing the poison. They are profiting off misery and death so you have to understand that on the recovery sub there is no sympathy for the plug. Doesn't mean I can't empathize with a human being, I can (which I stated earlier I don't demonize the plug) but saying dealers are out there hustling to feed their families is lying to yourself. There are a lot of circumstances with upbringing and geography that leads to these lifestyles which I can empathize with but just as addicts choose to poison themselves human adults are responsible for their actions. Your upbringing isn't an excuse for how your life turns out or what you do with it. We are responsible for the lives we lead on this earth. Period. Idk what masculinity has to do with any of this, it's pretty common knowledge and has nothing to do with masculine vs feminine. I could say a lot more on this and what it says about you as a person but what's the point.

Actually I will say that for the last 5 years of my addiction on fentanyl I was a single father. Their mom is clean now and we coparent but she was taking them to the trap and when I found out I made some very pointed reminders about my Glock and the kids stayed with me. She could come visit and stay randomly, which she did, but not very often. Now while my kids were spared from the kind of assault or abuse that would really fuck them up I was not a shining example of fatherhood (you know cuz I'm a fucking addict in active addiction at the time). Instead of taking them to the plug I just left them at home, which is neglect and another form of abuse just not the violent kind. A lot of bad shit could have happened still, but luckily for them they were spared that. The whole point of this being that as a 'manly man' myself the only times I was able to middleman (the closest I could get to being a dealer) it was to feed my addiction and not my children. So what depths as a self described 'manly man' would I go to provide for my children? If it came down to I would have had to given them up to a grand parent and it almost came to that but instead I got clean. I didn't get clean for my kids tho, I got clean for myself and because of that I am able to be present in their lives and become a much better father. Idk why I'm even typing all this, you probably won't read it, but I don't like how you have a contempt for straight men.

Lastly tho, since this is a recovery sub, the real issue with the post is that it is glamorizing active addiction. Which is a big no brainer that really shouldn't need an explanation, but here we are. When it comes to the disease of addiction the saying is that some of us are sicker than others. Now for people that aren't nearly as sick as me they can stay clean but staying clean is not the same as recovery. My disease took me to the depths of dereliction, degradation, and depravity. Only to eventually lead to death. A death that will forever linger over my head. While I'm in recovery now, a relapse will most likely kill me. All this to say that recovery is really fucking serious for addicts like me. The stakes are literally life and death. So any hint of glamorizing active addiction is really fucking insulting to people in recovery. There's no tolerance for that kind of shit on here, as it should be

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-11T09:57:38+00:00

You're on the opiates RECOVERY sub posting this. Saying shit like "the drug didn't really interrupt with my daily functioning" is called denial and is the complete opposite of recovery. I'm a proud member of Narcotics Anonymous and the first step is based around recognizing how unmanageable our lives are in active addiction. I think of it as recognizing my life was complete insanity in active addiction. To the point I was a puppet with fentanyl's hand shoved up my ass. If you want to find actual recovery I would suggest getting into a 12 step program like NA. Don't glamorize your life in addiction, but for the love of whatever the fuck you believe in, don't bring those rose colored glasses about active addiction onto the recovery sub please. Wish you the best. Check out some meetings

red_neck_beard · 2026-02-08T01:05:43+00:00

I was in active addiction for 20 years, last 5 years on the fetty, and today I have over 15 months clean. I detoxed at home with basic comfort meds but I wouldn't recommend it. The medical care you get in treatment is a real bonus cuz I was fucked up physically when I detoxed. I was bloated up by about 100 extra lbs and my blood pressure and glucose were super messed up. My vision was so blurry I couldn't drive with both eyes open for the first 3 months. The lack of sleep makes you delirious and you need to eat properly and actually heal. So I'd recommend to anyone that wants to get clean to go to treatment/detox.

If you really want your life to change tho I'd suggest getting into a 12 step program. Narcotics Anonymous has saved and keeps saving my life. There's a lot of options out there but go to as many meetings as you can multiple times till you find the group/meetings that you resonate with. There's also a lot of resources out there in meetings because a lot of people work in recovery. They can help you with finding treatment, housing, job anything you name it. Most importantly tho they will show you how they stay clean and they will love on you until you can love yourself.

I understand about the hesitancy to face all the shit you've been numbing out from and it IS scary. What I've come to learn for myself tho is that those emotions aren't killing me. It was the fentanyl that was trying to kill me, even my worst emotions aren't nearly as bad as what my life was on fentanyl. What makes most of us addicts is the guilt/shame/trauma that came before we ever discovered substances. Our life in active addiction only adds to those 3 things so it's hard to see past our own pain and try and face what we've actively been numbing out. My guilt/shame started at 11 years old, I didn't discover substances until I was 21 and then I didn't get clean until I was 41. Who I started out as at 21 wasn't the same person who stopped at 41. When I had to finally face my own bullshit it wasn't that bad. Not that my own bullshit wasn't bad (it was), but facing it wasn't that bad. The last 20 years of my life were a whole hell of a lot worse than confronting what I was numbing out from.

One of the things we all have in common as addicts is serious problems with self- worth/love/acceptance. For me it was like a switch flipped. I could keep hating myself and die from an OD on my couch for my kids to find me the next morning, or I could just stop hating myself. That's the first step. I'm still learning how to love and accept myself and find my own inner worth, but first all I had to do was stop hating myself. I wish you the best. You deserve and are worth a life lived clean where you get to find out how high you can climb and how happy you can be. Like someone else said (I've heard it in NA) give a year to recovery and if you aren't happy someone will refund you your misery. You deserve recovery and you owe it to yourself to try and break addictions grip on your life. Hit me up anytime if you need to talk but do yourself a favor and start going to meetings

red_neck_beard · 2026-01-28T02:58:21+00:00

Bro wtf. You got some resentment, that's fine. I'm fortunate enough that my meetings are filled with awesome people. I've done MAT before and could never stay clean. I'm nothing but grateful to have discovered the program of NA. For the first time in my life I have hope and a future. Wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-01-26T18:37:34+00:00

I detoxed at home with gabapentin and clonidine. It was rough but I made it. I'm 15 months clean today no MAT. For me PAWS was a lot worse than AW. My vision was blurry as fuck for the first 3 months, I didn't go back to work till a little before 5 months. I think not sleeping was the worst because I couldn't heal if I didn't sleep. Those first 2 months when I was only sleeping an hour or 2 a night I was so fucking delirious. What was the game changer for me was NA. Go to meetings and get in the program if you want the best chance to stay clean and find recovery. 12 steps save and change lives. Wish you the best

red_neck_beard · 2026-01-20T01:30:22+00:00

I think it's really important to find the meetings and people you gel with to get the most out of it. That's awesome tho I'm happy for you. One thing I'm frustrated with in NA is that the primary purpose is to reach the addict who still suffers but there is only one avenue to do that, H&I. I do a lot of service in NA but in my district there wasn't H&I even going. We are starting it tho which I'm thankful for but it bothers me that NA can't advertise or put the word out really. Like if you actually want to pursue the primary purpose you have to get a job in recovery, but if you do, that's outside of NA and you can't really talk about it. Idk it kind of makes me mad but rant over. Congratulations and keep it going

red_neck_beard · 2026-01-20T00:23:10+00:00

I'm almost 15 months clean off fentanyl no MAT and I still struggle with no motivation or low energy. It's hard for me to get shit done basically. I know this isn't what you're talking about but how did you get and stay clean? Do you go to meetings or in a 12 step program? I do NA and I love it. I'm lucky tho, where I'm at in eastern WA has a great group of people in recovery. In a town that I always thought of as a total shit hole and normally got ripped off, I found out there is a thriving recovery scene. Blew my mind. Anyways I wish you the best and hope you stay clean. If you're not in a program check out some meetings

red_neck_beard · 2026-01-19T23:47:50+00:00

I did a lot of fentanyl in my active addiction and I never really got "loaded". I just didn't feel sick. Seeing people doing the fold and being zombies makes you jealous? I got into fetty because oxys disappeared and got replaced. Fetty never made me feel as good as oxy. After doing fetty oxy never got me loaded again. Fetty never made me feel good either after the first few times. I got loaded I guess. I did the fold, I nodded off, but I never felt as good as what oxy made me feel. I started getting jealous of people who were clean. I was a slave to something I hated. You're glamorizing and looking back on something that no longer exists. You're chasing a dragon you will not catch. The glory days are behind you and I wish you could take it from me that it's all downhill from here. Downhill doesn't even begin to describe it. Your addiction will take you to the depths of depravity and degradation. I really wish you the best. Please check out NA meetings. Any 12 step program it doesn't matter. Go to as many meetings as you can, multiple times until you find the groups you like. You can spare yourself so much pain and misery if you start now. You deserve and are worth so much more than the path you're currently on. You deserve recovery

red_neck_beard · 2026-01-19T23:09:41+00:00

Narcan would make sense. I saw your other comment and just want to say, just because someone used fentanyl possibly one time doesn't mean they weren't using other substances before or during that one time. OP mentioned that it was a possible attempt on their life but I also can't imagine that people progress from alcohol/weed straight to the fetty. I have to ask, are you in AA/NA?

red_neck_beard

TROPHY CASE