Opiate Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit that publishes free, plain-language
information about opioid dependence, withdrawal, treatment, and recovery. We
write for people going through it and the families beside them.
Six core focus areas across the recovery ecosystem
Much of what is written about opioid withdrawal and recovery is technical,
scattered, or silent about what the evidence can’t show. We read the
published research and public-health guidance, explain it in plain language,
and say where the evidence is limited, historical, or disputed.
Withdrawal and dependence: what happens in the brain and body, and for how long.
Treatment: how medications for opioid use disorder work, and what to ask a clinician.
Recovery: sleep, nutrition, movement, and support in the months after withdrawal.
Families and caregivers: how to help, how to spot an overdose, and how to use naloxone.
Judging claims: how to tell strong evidence from a hopeful story.
Paul Mason founded the foundation after 23 years of opioid dependence. His experience shaped the questions we try to answer. It is not evidence, and it is not the basis for what we publish; our pages rest on published research and public-health guidance.
“Paul Mason is a pen name. I use it to protect my family’s privacy, but the
23 years are real. I’m not a doctor, and nothing here is medical advice.
If you’re thinking about stopping opioids, please talk with a clinician;
medications for opioid use disorder have the strongest evidence. My own
experience with vitamin C is my story, not a treatment recommendation, and
our Research Library explains how limited the evidence is.”
We don’t diagnose, prescribe, or recommend a treatment for any individual.
We don’t promise outcomes. And we don’t treat personal stories or early research as equal to clinical evidence.
Explore published research, evidence reviews, and methodological resources.
Understand the biology of dependence and acute/post-acute withdrawal.
Explore educational resources on recovery, sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
Find resources for supporting someone affected by opioid dependence.
Explore our transparent educational overview of Vitamin C research.
Download the C-Free Detox Guide.