What to Look For in a Suboxone Clinic

If you’re currently dealing with opioid addiction, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Studies show that 11.4 million Americans misused pain medicine in 2016 and 2017. Opioids include a wide variety of drugs such as heroin and prescription drugs such as oxycodone. The repeated use of opioids can lead to the chronic disease known as an opioid use disorder.

Opioid use is not just a bad habit that you need to break. Opioid addiction is a disease that alters the chemistry of your brain. That means that if you truly want to stop using opioids, you are likely to need outside help. The good news is that no matter where you are on the road to recovery, there are options available to help you. One example is rehab clinics that are able to prescribe medication-assisted treatment such as Suboxone. These clinics are an essential part of the recovery process for many.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a popular prescription medication that’s used to stabilize opioid addiction. The medication consists of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine helps to relieve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal while naloxone reverses the effect of the narcotics.

Not just every doctor can prescribe Suboxone. Having that privilege requires an eight-hour training course and a special license. That doesn’t mean that the opportunities to find a suboxone doctor are hard though. Many doctors have taken the training to be able to prescribe it.

The following are factors that you should look for in a Suboxone clinic to ensure that you’re getting the best quality care.

  1. Make Sure the Physicians Are Certified

Like mentioned before, Suboxone is a medication that cannot be prescribed with a special certification. Checking the clinic extensively to make sure that all of the providers are certified for suboxone treatment is important. If they do not have the proper certification, they will be unable to offer you suboxone treatment. Our website, FindSuboxoneNearMe.com is an excellent resource to find suboxone clinics in your area. When you reach out to these clinics, you can request information anonymously and share with them specific details about your drug use. If the clinic accepts your insurance, or you are willing to pay the out of pocket fee, you can schedule an appointment to be seen.

  1. Look for Counseling Options

When it comes to treating opioid addiction, medication is only one part of the journey to recovery. Counseling, in the variety of ways that it’s offered, can help you get to the true emotional root of your opioid addiction.

As you think about the question of “why”, your mind may jump to the most superficial answers first (i.e. “It makes me feel good’ etc.). But, there is often a deeper issue that’s lying underneath. That’s where counseling comes in.

The best counseling option truly depends on the individual. As a result, it’s important to ask what options are available in order to make sure that the one you prefer is available to you. There are many options for counseling, including individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling.

Each has their own particular benefit. For example, through group counseling, you’ll be able to listen and learn about other people who are going through similar experiences to you. Through listening to their stories, you may be able to utilize pieces of what they’ve done and gain a new perspective on your own recovery.

  1. Look for Positive Referrals/Reviews

It’s important to get several different opinions and experiences regarding suboxone. First, talk to your primary care doctor about your problems with opioid addiction and the need for Suboxone. Your primary care doctor may be able to refer you to a trusted Suboxone clinic in the area. Before dedicating yourself to a clinic, be sure to do your due diligence and research. You can find telling reviews online from others who have been patients at the clinic. They may be biased in nature but getting that second opinion can be quite beneficial. Look at Yelp reviews, if they are available. You are trusting this clinic with your health, and that’s a hefty responsibility.

  1. Check If They Offer Telemedicine Options

Telemedicine is growing more popular each and every day. If you live in a rural area and opioid dependence treatment isn’t readily available, telehealth treatment may be a great option for you. Through telemedicine, licensed physicians and nurses use the power of technology to help you through your Suboxone treatment so you can have the best chance at success no matter where you are. They can help you in a variety of ways remotely, including managing and monitoring the dosage of medications, administering individual and group counseling sessions, and patient screening.

The HHS states that it’s continually growing telemedicine in order to expand the reach of treatment for opioid dependence. In order to combat the ever-growing opioid crisis, the U.S. wants to make sure that everyone who needs care gets it, despite where they may be in the country. Ask your preferred Suboxone office if they offer any options in telemedicine. That way you can make sure that you’re getting the care that’s most convenient and beneficial for your success.

Conclusion

When you’re deep into the thresholds of opioid addiction, you may feel stuck. Despite your struggles, it’s important to know that you have options to help you get back to your best you. It all depends on when you’re ready to make that commitment. Following the previously mentioned steps will help you find the option that’s right for you. In turn, you can take the steps that you need to work through your opioid addiction.

 

Sources

[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, & National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (2016). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR1-2016/NSDUH-FFR1-2016.pdf

[2] Saitz, R., Larson, M. J., Labelle, C., Richardson, J., & Samet, J. H. (2008). The case for chronic disease management for addiction. Journal of addiction medicine2(2), 55–65. doi:10.1097/ADM.0b013e318166af74 Retrieved From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756688/

[3] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018, September). Telemedicine and Prescribing Buprenorphine for the Treatment of an Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/sites/default/files/2018-09/hhs-telemedicine-hhs-statement-final-508compliant.pdf

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