Can someone ever completely get over an opiate addiction? Are there any permanent effects on the brain?

Question by Katie: Can someone ever completely get over an opiate addiction? Are there any permanent effects on the brain?
One of my family members is addicted to pain pills and they recently got clean for three months but then went right back to snorting the pills. I know addiction is a life long process but are there any people who have gotten off of opiates and stopped relapsing? I also want to know if he has possibly permanently altered his brain chemistry. I am afraid he is going to get himself killed or never act like his old self again. Any information on this topic would be great. If anyone doesn’t mind I’d like to hear from someone else who has had trouble with opiates so I can understand what my cousin is going through.

Best answer:

Answer by Ronbo
Most any type of narcotic addiction will have permanent consequences…

The feeling of euphoria comes from a deprivation of oxygen to the brain. Lack of oxygen kills brain cells and once brain cells are gone, they don’t come back.

I know that alcoholics who quit drinking have a sort of “reset” period where their brain rewires itself after about 9 or 10 months without alcohol… But they won’t be scoring the same on their SAT’s as they did before the addiction took control

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