Frequently Asked Questions

• Needing to take more of the drug to get the same effect—or getting a lesser effect from the same amount of the drug† • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using opioids, or taking opioids to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms† • Taking larger amounts of opioids than planned, and for longer periods of time • Craving for opioids • Persistently wanting to quit, or trying unsuccessfully to quit • Spending a lot of time and effort to obtain, use, and recover from taking opioids • Giving up activities because of substance use • Continuing to use opioids in spite of negative consequences • Failing to fulfill major obligations • Recurring use in hazardous situations • Continuing to use despite social or interpersonal problems

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), people believe at first that they can stop using drugs on their own. But after experiencing cycles of withdrawal and return to drug use, some people begin to fear the withdrawal symptoms and spend progressively more time making sure that they continue to keep a level of drug in their system in order to avoid the intense withdrawal symptoms.