A opioid taper regimen, and its method of manufacture, for use in a method of opioid reduction leading to abstinence. Said regimen is administered within the range of 2 to 4 years, or more. The regimen comprises novel approaches to common problems encountered during tapers of low dose opioid addiction. The reduction regimen is generally linear； reduces the dosage level once per week； doses every six hours； reduces doses by steps in the range of about 0.001 to 0.0500 mg； has, near the end, ten weeks of doses of about 0.0025 mg buprenorphine q.i.d.； followed by four or more weeks of placebos. Instructions for manufacture of doses that differ by 0.0025 mg and 0.0050 mg buprenorphine are specified.
