Maybe Phoenix should go talk to a doctor or I guess it would be a veteranarian. Phoenix's sub dose is pretty small and if he/she was really only doing a bag a day I wouldn't think the physical part would be that horrible, but meantally it is a b*tch I am sure.
What other kinds of support is Phoenix getting? Does Phoenix see a therapist or go to meetings? When I truly wanted to quit, but couldn't I knew it was time to pull out all of the stops. Dive into recovery like my life depended on it. Actively seek out support because I knew how it went when I was on my own. Phoenix doesn't have nine lives and if he does he has already used up 8 of them. I hope everything works out for you and Phoenix.