Suboxone is a game-changing medicine that has made headlines for its ability to turn the clock back on addiction. Suboxone sales reached $1.55 billion in the United States in 2012, surpassing widely known drugs Viagra and Adderall.
The success is heavily linked to the exploding opioid abuse epidemic that the United States has been facing. This drug has been embraced by federal officials. A drug that can be used as a substitute for the more deadly methadone was a game-changer, and the millions suffering from this addiction could finally seek relief.
Suboxone, however, has a dark side that was not intended when it was introduced to the market. It was created and marketed as a safer way to treat opioid addiction. With 115 people in the United States dying daily from opioid overdoses, it was crucial to develop a drug with the capacity to save the millions that are being affected.
But we started to see that Suboxone, like any other drugs, can be misused. Those who use the drug irresponsibly and not in the manner it is intended can develop an addiction to it.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a brand-name prescription medication used in opioid treatment addiction. It works by blocking withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings. Those who use Suboxone can take the drug as a sublingual strip or tablet that goes under the tongue. Administering the medication in this fashion creates a faster-acting process.
Suboxone is a combination of two medications—buprenorphine and naloxone. Suboxone is considered a “partial opioid agonist,” meaning that buprenorphine will produce a milder effect when acting on opioid receptors in the brain. Opioids with the greatest abuse potential are full agonists. These drugs include oxycodone, hydromorphone, morphine, methadone, and the illegal drug, heroin.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a report that buprenorphine can:
- Lower the potential for misuse
- Diminish the effects of physical dependence on opioids, such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings
- Increase safety in case of overdoses
If you have ever heard of medical detox, Suboxone is one of the drugs that is used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to curb the worst effects of opioid withdrawal.
This also will be used in conjunction with counseling and behavioral therapies to help people end their dependence on opioid medications.
There is another ingredient in Suboxone called naloxone, which you may have heard referred to as Narcan, its brand name.
As it does in its purest form, Naloxone does its part to block full agonist opioids from attaching to opioid receptors.
The reason Naloxone was added into the mix was to discourage the misuse of Suboxone.
What Are the Signs of Suboxone Addiction?
While Suboxone can be highly effective as a means to help a recovering user, it still is considered an opioid drug.
Even with its design, it still carries a potential to be habit-forming because of the drug’s potency.
There is a likelihood of developing a physical dependence on Suboxone, and there is the potential for abuse.
Ironically, those who don’t have an opioid use disorder (OUD) are more likely to abuse the drug.
The top reasons people abuse the drug are to experience euphoria, reduce pain, or to calm down.
Those who do have OUD problems use Suboxone as a means to manage their cravings.
If you or someone you love is suspected of abusing Suboxone, you may notice these actions:
- Crushing tablets to snort the powder
- Mixing crushed tablets with water to inject
- Taking more than prescribed dosage at a time
- Chewing the tablets and swallowing them
Outward signs of physical abuse related to Suboxone include:
- Slurred speech
- Watery eyes
- Memory impairment issues
These are some of the more clear warning signs that come specifically from Suboxone use, but this does not mean it will affect everyone the same.
General signs of addiction can include:
- Continuing to use medication despite the consequences
- Running out of the medication before prescription schedule expires
- Mixing Suboxone with other drugs and a