ncrease 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 alcohol
- Using Suboxone for reasons other than its intended purpose
- Anxiety, depression, and irritability
- Strained family and friends relationships
- Spending all of your money on Suboxone
- Lying about drug use
A telltale sign that someone is abusing this drug or has developed a tolerance for it is when physical and psychological changes begin to emerge after cessation of use. The withdrawals begin to occur as the brain and body try to adjust to smaller amounts of Suboxone than they’ve become accustomed to.
Long-term Suboxone users are advised to avoid quitting the drug abruptly. Ending drug use in a “cold turkey” manner often does more harm than good. It is more typical that someone who quit cold turkey to relapse than someone who recovers via medical detox.
If you or someone you love is seeking the best possible outcome, attending an addiction treatment facility, with a good reputation, should be the first step . These treatment facilities offer substance abuse and addiction with evidence-based practices.
How to Treat Suboxone Addiction
The first and most difficult step to a better life is entering into treatment for your Suboxone addiction. Addiction treatment must be customized to suit the individual’s unique requirements through a variety of therapies. Treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it can be adjusted throughout the process as a person’s needs change.
In the majority of cases, individuals who enter treatment will start their journey in medical detox. During a typical stay, the individual will remain there anywhere from three to seven days or longer, depending on the case.
During this time, Suboxone and other drugs will be removed from the body during a medically supervised stay. There will be a tapering schedule put in place to ensure the process is gradual, and the recovering user is comfortable for the duration of the process.
You will meet with the medical team to create a treatment plan designed specifically for you. You will begin determining which method of treatment following 