7 Years 88 days - Withdrawals

7 Years 88 days - Withdrawals

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? Australian comedian David Boyle lets you straight into his head on day 7 years and 88 days alcohol-free, as he decides to quit prescribed oxycodone after surgery, cold turkey. In his usual blunt, sweary style, he talks through the messy middle ground between genuine pain relief and the frightening pull of opiates.

Boyle explains that he’s in "excruciating" pain but chooses to stop the oxy because, as he puts it, "the only reason I'm stopping is ... because I know how fucking dangerous it is." He describes shivering under blankets, constant aching, itching, headaches and that restless, can’t-get-comfortable feeling that’s all too familiar to anyone who has been through withdrawal. What really hits home is how easily someone without his addiction awareness could slide into trouble.

He walks through a very believable scenario: you follow doctors’ orders, take every pill they suggest, then a week or two later you’re aching all over, still being handed more pills, and suddenly you’re in "another ordeal" without realising it. It’s a sharp reminder that prescribed doesn’t always mean safe, especially for people with a history of substance use. Despite the dark humour and colourful language, there’s a strong undercurrent of self-preservation.

Boyle talks honestly about the temptation to double his dose "and enjoy yourself" but admits, "I can't fucking do it." Instead, he chooses to sit with the discomfort, ride out the possible withdrawals, and hope he’ll be feeling better in about a week. This short episode will appeal to anyone in recovery who wants a brutally honest, no-frills look at pain, craving, and the tiny daily decisions that keep sobriety on track.

It might leave you asking yourself: what risks are hiding in your own medicine cabinet?