Rapper Eminem released his album “Relapse” in 2009; “Recovery” followed in 2010.

In the second album, he details his addiction to prescription opioids. According to Em, he was taking 10 to 20 Vicodin a day, as well as Xanax and Valium.

But he’s one of the lucky ones. In April of this year, he celebrated 11 years sober.

For many folks, there's a different ending: Around 1.7 million Americans have a diagnosable addiction to prescription opioids such as hydrocodone.

Of course, a lot of people take these medications to treat chronic pain (which afflicts 50 million Americans), and 8% to 12% develop a life-changing dependency.

But if you're taking opioids and want to reduce or stop your use of them, that can be tricky business.

That's why the Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidelines for tapering off opioids that they say are effective and will cause the user the least distress and physical or psychological harm.

The basics are as follows:

• Slow tapering (those who have been taking the medication for one year or longer). Reduce intake by 10% or less a month over months or years depending on starting dose.

• Fast tapering (those who have been taking the medication for weeks or months). Reduce dose by 10% to 20% every week, until 30% of the original dose is reached. Then decrease by 10% of the remaining dose weekly.

Most importantly, don't do this alone: Work with your doctor and a pain-management specialist to protect yourself from unmanaged withdrawal symptoms and dangerous relapse.