What is withdrawal or “dope sickness”?

If you suddenly stop using opioids regularly or it’s been a while since you last used them, you are likely to experience withdrawal, also known as dope sickness. 

Withdrawal is your body’s way of reacting to the absence of opioids (not having the drug in your system anymore). If your body is used to having the drugs in your system, not having them anymore will lead to a lot of unpleasant symptoms. By learning strategies to manage withdrawal symptoms, you can be better prepared to handle them.