Buprenorphine is an opioid that has been used to help relieve symptoms of opiate withdrawal.

Buprenorphine for Opiate Withdrawal

During opioid withdrawal, pain may be mistaken by patients for the medical problem that led to the prescription, and that mistaken interpretation can motivate continued opioid use.

Opioid Withdrawal Pain and Continued Use

Withdrawal from opioids involves pain, which patients often misinterpret as pain caused by the original problem that led to their prescription. This misinterpretation motivates them to continue using the opioid drugs.

Misinterpretation of Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioid withdrawal can resemble a severe case of the flu and can be extremely unpleasant, but it is not life-threatening.

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A condition characterized by a range of negative symptoms that emerge when a person stops using a drug. These symptoms are typically the opposite of the drug's primary effects. For instance, withdrawal from sedative drugs, which normally calm the body, often results in unpleasant arousal and agitation.

Withdrawal in Substance Use Disorders

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

For individuals with a history of prolonged, high-dose use of alcohol or barbiturates, the withdrawal process can be a life-threatening experience.

Life-Threatening Withdrawal from Alcohol and Barbiturates

A person who has been regularly using a substance that produces feelings of euphoria and heightened energy decides to stop. Based on the principle that withdrawal symptoms are often the opposite of a drug's effects, what is this person most likely to experience?

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