Recovery

In order to have a successful recovery, there must be an environmental and biochemical component.

The Environment Component

New behaviors are needed to help facilitate recovery. You must maximize the amount of natural opioids that our brain produces to experience those fulfilling effects. This can be seen through engaging in work activities, new hobbies, sports, exercise, social interactions, sex, or adventures. Thus, any behavior that stimulates a feeling of satisfaction, excitement, or accomplishment will help our brain biochemistry in producing endorphins and dopamine.

The Biochemical Component

It is important to continue the suppression of GABA production, but not as fully as what happens with fentanyl or oxycodone. To do this, different synthetic opioids are used, such as methadone. Methadone isn’t as fast acting as fentanyl or oxycodone since it binds to opioid receptors for a longer period of time, but it does trigger the suppression of GABA production. Since it is more inefficient in its interactions with the opioid receptor proteins, the euphoria feeling it stimulates is lower. In fact, methadone has a longer half life than the other synthetic opioids, meaning it is kept in our system longer and with greater drug associated effects. Due to this, our GABA producing neurons start to slowly build back fully functioning OPRM1 receptors, which aids in your recovery journey.