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.