Suboxone for Teens: Is it a Good Choice?

Opioid addiction is a debilitating phenomenon that’s affecting a wide range of individuals from different nationalities, ethnicities, and age groups. One age group that’s been affected significantly is teenagers.

Research found that between 1997 and 2012 the rate of hospitalization due to opioid poisoning nearly doubles in children and adolescents in the United States.

If you know a teenager that’s dealing with opioid addiction, now is the time to be proactive and help them overcome it through Suboxone.

Suboxone is one of the most effective medications utilized to treat opioid addiction. Suboxone consists of two main ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone.

Together, they can prevent the painful withdrawal symptoms of opioids. This gives an individual a better chance of overcoming their opioid addiction since they don’t have to deal with those debilitating withdrawal symptoms.

The Phases of Opioid Withdrawal

The first phase of opioid withdrawal, entitled acute withdrawal, often includes abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, agitation, and insomnia. These symptoms can last anywhere from one week to one month depending on the seriousness of the opioid addiction.

The second phase of opioid withdrawal, entitled post-acute withdrawal, can last up to two years. These symptoms include disrupted sleep, mood swings, struggles to concentrate, and low enthusiasm.

These symptoms can be a lot for adults to deal with, so you can only imagine how these symptoms would affect a child.

Suboxone has helped thousands of adults across the nation combat their addiction to opioids. But, what you may not be aware of, is that Suboxone has been approved for use for teens over the age of 16. If a teen is addicted to opioids, then Suboxone should be considered to help them overcome their addiction. Suboxone can be used in a variety of different ways in order for a teen to work through their addiction.

It doesn’t have to be a long-term medication that a teen would have to work into their daily routine for the rest of their lives. It can also be used during a short time period to help a teen detox from opioids. This stops the teen from experiencing the harmful effects of opioid withdrawal. Suboxone is prescribed to cater to the specific needs of the patient, especially when dealing with a teen.

Suboxone is Becoming More Available for Teens

Currently, suboxone is becoming more accessible and being recommended more frequently for teenagers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that medication-assisted treatment is appropriate for adolescents with opioid use disorders. Additionally, they stated that pediatricians should consider offering medication-assisted treatment to their adolescent patients.

Suboxone can be a great option for teens who are dealing with opioid addiction. When a teen uses Suboxone, it doesn’t completely stop their life. They won’t have to take time off from school or work. A teen can use Suboxone and live their life as they normally would, as long as they cater to the doctor’s wishes. Additionally, using Suboxone is less expensive than putting your loved one in a rehab facility.

Parents can be very involved in their teen’s recovery and help them make that next step, through using Suboxone. If you think that your teen is abusing opioids, you may feel as though you’ve lost control. Introducing a medication-assisted treatment to your child can help you gain some of that control back and put your child on the right path to success.

Medication Assisted Treatment Can Be Useful Harm Reduction for Teens

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that drug overdose death rates for adolescents aged 15-19 more than doubled from 1999 to 2015. The CDC also found that the majority of drug overdose deaths for male and female adolescents were done accidentally. Research has found that intervening with medication-assisted treatment, like Suboxone, reduced harm for teens. This gives the teen a chance at living and thriving through an opioid-free lifestyle.

When a teen takes Suboxone, they’re given a better chance at recovery. If they choose to stop using opioids “cold-turkey”, they would have to deal with a painful detoxing period. This often takes them away from work or school and cause them to get behind in some areas. When using suboxone, the teen is able to look at their life aside from their addiction and understand truly why they’ve been abusing opioids.

Therapy Should Always be a Part of The Recovery Equation

Therapy can be a great option for teens who are recovering from opioid addiction and using Suboxone. There are many different types of therapy to take part in including group, individual, and family.

Group therapy is beneficial because it allows the teen to learn through other people’s experiences and gain valuable information about opioid addiction. Individual therapy gives the teen much needed one on one time and may be more comfortable for the teen, depending on their personality. As for family therapy, It’s very important for parents to get involved and for the whole family to get a better understanding of their teen’s addiction. Addiction doesn’t just affect one person, it affects the whole family as well.

Each type of therapy offers its own benefits, but all will give the teen key information and valuable coping skills to help them stop using Suboxone for the long term.

Misconceptions Surrounding Suboxone

A common misconception surrounding using Suboxone is that it’s just “trading one addiction for another.” It’s important to realize that’s just not the case. Addiction isn’t just a bad decision gone wrong, it’s a disease. In order to cure a disease, you often need to fight back with some sort of medication. Suboxone is a medication that has helped thousands of people beat their addictions. Recovery looks different for every person, but it may be the chance that your teen needs in order to get a second chance at life.

Conclusion

Suboxone is a valuable option for any teens who are dealing with opioid addiction. It alleviates the symptoms of opioid withdrawal so teens can focus on their recovery and have a better chance of beating their opioid addiction for good. Research has proven Suboxone as a viable choice for individuals who have opioid addiction, including late teens. If you’re a parent with a teen who you may suspect has an opioid problem, you should consider Suboxone. Allowing your child to use Suboxone could save their life in the long run.