Meds similar to opiates?

So i've always preferred opiates over anything else. Now i get this is a problem and there are tons of reasons why. I am working on being 100% drug free, but it is tough. Anyway this isn't the addiction forum so i'll get to the point. Opiates make me everything i wish i was, even with a small dose. My anxiety is gone, i am interested in things, i think clearly, i feel all around smarter and better at everything. I even seem to be able to breath better while on them. The downsides are addiction/withdrawals, lower testosterone, sometimes irritability/mood seings(in my case), etc. i've tried tons of meds and always have had bad side effects and nothing that makes me feel comfortable. I was just wondering if there were any medications out there similar to opiates? I feel like my life would be fine if they somehow figured out how to do this lol.

Also on a side note do any of you use marijuana? Notice any benefits of it? I was thinking of vaping in the evenings when i usually have problems wih drug cravings/depression/boredom and all that fun stuff. I used to smoke all the time, but over the last few years i've been staying away from it mostly. I was just thinking if maybe i embraced it in a healthy way it could be the lesser of evils and give me something to do.

Thanks everyone, btw i'm not sure if this is the best forum for these questions, maybe the thread should be moved to psych meds or even addiction, idk... I'm just diagnosed with BP, and most familiar with you guys, so i put it here.

No opinion on the opiates, but weed makes me paranoid. Depending on each person it reacts different.

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Weed makes me paranoid too. One time when I was high I had the worst panic attack I have ever experienced.

Yeah i've had horrible panic attacks from weed as well, but always from accidently getting too high from edibles. I just need something to replace opiates for a lot of reasons. I'd like to be 100% sober, but i might have to cut out one drug at a time. A medication similar to opiates seems too good to be possible lol.

I smoked the other day and had to wake my bf up because I was freaking out so bad!!! I seriously felt like I was going to have psychosis. But that's a long story lol.

There is a herb called kratom that mimicks opiates.

I love me some opiates, and some MJ. If I get paranoid/anxious (which I usually do), I just take a klonopin. I second the Kratom

I used to be a hard core opiate addict. I got off it- thank God, because I know it could have killed me on a number of occasions. I also used to be a lush. Alcohol free for 13 years, opiate free for about five.
I am not sober. I would describe it as the marijuana maintence program. It helps with lots of things, but mainly I use it to curb my appetite for harder drugs. It's not perfect but at least I am functional and don't have to worry about overdosing.

Are benzos similar to opiates? Xanax helps me so much (anxiety is the worst part of my MI). There are times in my life when I need to take more than other times, and many days when I don't need it at all. It's a lifesaver when I'm facing severe and moderate anxiety.

Thanks for the replies all!

I actually am very familiar with kratom, i just ordered some even. I have had my problems with opiates and i know i need to stay off them. I just don't know if i can at this point in my life without some help. I keep quitting for a few days only to go back. The amount of $ i've spent is sickening... I also can't deny that the opiate effect has helped me in a lot of situations. Especially breaking the ice with new jobs, people, etc. Am i stupid to think i can have kratom around without using it all the time? I think if i can moderate it to just the times i need it, or for boring weekends where i tend to slip up, that it'd be beneficial. I mean it's not dangerous or expensive, but is slightly addictive(but nothing crazy ime). It's definitely better than popping benzos or opiates, in my case at least.

To keep from using kratom everyday i was thinking i'd vape mj at night during the week. It really helps me close out the night and chill out. I do realize it makes me a little more on edge if i start to use it too often though.

Anyway i figure this might be my best bet as far as medication goes. I just CAN'T keep using opiates and need a better guarantee than just trying to use willpower and recovery programs. It's just impossible to be certain i won't use that way. Especially with us MI folk lol.

Let me know what you all think, thanks again. Hope you all had a fun/safe weekend.