Fear of Opioid Withdrawal
Cravings are a major reason that heroin and prescription opioid addicts relapse or delay getting into treatment. What drives cravings in the mind is pretty complicated, but one big part of them is the fear of withdrawal symptoms. “I’ll stop tomorrow” is the recurring thought.
Withdrawals from opioids feel like a bad case of the flu. If you know how even a mild flu feels, then you take precautions to avoid catching the virus. Opioid addicts know they can avoid that feeling by using heroin or a painkiller. The thought of enduring the temporary discomfort to save their lives is pushed aside out of fear.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a safe way to start the road to recovery. Medical detoxification done correctly minimizes the discomfort. But the addict’s fear still holds them back. Methadone and buprenorphine Maintenance programs offer a safe passage past the fear, building a motivation to complete a detox program and get into a treatment program.