Is Suboxone Right for Me?

Introduction

Finding the strength to seek treatment from addiction is difficult to say the least, especially an addiction to opioids. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, every day more than 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose . With so many lives at risk, new treatment drugs have been developed to increase rehabilitation rates, including suboxone use for patients.

Suboxone treatment

One of the reasons that opioid use is so hard to stop is the effect of the drug on the brain. Suboxone treatment involves using an opioid to treat opioid addiction. This type of treatment should only be done under a doctor’s supervision and along with therapy and aftercare support.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction. It uses two different drugs- buprenorphine and naloxone to control the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Suboxone affects the brain in two ways:

Buprenorphine gives a small dose of opioid to help manage withdrawal symptoms. The highs are much lower than what would be experienced with opioid use but allow the user to slowly wean themselves off of their opioid of choice.  While buprenorphine activates the opioid receptors in the brain, naloxone shuts them down. It can cause withdrawal symptoms in those currently abusing opioids.

Suboxone Withdrawal

A study in National Institute of Health found that those who used suboxone had better outcomes. In the study it was found that those who used the drug were less likely to use both opioids as well as other drugs. It also assisted in the retention of concepts introduced to the patient during rehabilitation.

Treatment Delivery

There are several different ways suboxone patients can take the medication: by swallowing a pill, by dissolving the medicine or through injection. Many health practitioners suggest delivering suboxone through a dissolvable pill or suboxone film as it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and has immediate effects.

Suboxone for Pain

While suboxone was created to help opioid dependent individuals stem their addiction with minimal withdrawal symptoms, there are some that question if the drug should also be prescribed for pain management.

A study by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health  has found that suboxone does not provide effective pain relief for chronic pain sufferers and also has too high of a risk  suboxone abuse or even suboxone addiction.

Suboxone Side Effects

Suboxone can only be administered by a medical professional as it can have many adverse side effects and can be fatal. In individuals who are abusing opioids, suboxone can produce withdrawal symptoms including irritability, mood swings, nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps and diarrhea. Those who have been chronically addicted to full opioid agonists (heroin, for example) could develop seizure or respiratory failure.

Conclusion

While many hail suboxone as a safer alternative to methadone, it still presents its own set of risks. If you are seeking treatment for opioid addiction, you can speak to your health care professional so see if a suboxone treatment center could be the right fit for you. For a treatment center near you, check out www.findsuboxonenearme.com.

narcotics anonymous meetings

5 Reasons Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Will Help Your Heroin Recovery

/0 Comments/in /by

The battle with addiction is one of the toughest things a family can face and it’s something that can’t be done alone. Over 40 million people in the US struggle with addiction each year.

Narcotics Anonymous meetings can be a crucial resource to help individuals gain control over their addiction. They can be the difference between relapse and being successful in recovery.

Keep reading to learn the top ways Narcotics Anonymous meetings can help.

Let’s get started!

1. Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Give You Support

One of the biggest factors in successful recovery is having a strong support system.

It’s difficult for someone who hasn’t had an addiction to understand the struggle. NA offers support from individuals who have had addictions. They’ve dealt with many similar challenges.

When someone first enters recovery, there can be a lot of guilt involved around the people they love. Things get said and done during addiction. It can cause distrust.

Having an external support system available without judgment can make coming to terms with the past easier. It may be easier to feel accepted by and open up to other NA participants than for an addict to find support with family, friends, and people affected by their addiction.

The Narcotics Anonymous group format allows a myriad of personalities, resources, and supports for each person involved. The word anonymous is right in the title, so a person has the sense of trust not afforded in the rest of the world.

2. Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Offer New Friends

Prior to entering treatment or recovery, most addicts spend their social time with other addicts. This makes it difficult to know what to do with yourself once you are trying to make healthier choices and avoid bad influences.

NA allows you to meet other people who are trying to make the same healthy choices. They are also aware of possible triggers and difficulties that may arise during the early stages of recovery.

Meetings are filled with people from all walks of life, professions, backgrounds, and life situations. Attending is an opportunity to gain support from others and to learn more about life from those you meet there.

They can provide you with new people to associate with and learn from. You can gain a new perspective, new confidence, and learn new coping skills from those around you.

3. A New Focus for Your Time and Energy

Along the same vein as needing to make new friends, you also need new activities. This will help to take your mind off of old coping mechanisms that led to addiction.

Someone with an addiction needs to have distractions and to not only get rid of the addiction but also replace it with healthier choices. As someone gets to know the people within their support group, they often gain greater insight into themselves.

Life for an addict usually becomes all about the addiction. It revolves around paying for, finding, and using their vice. Once you take away the physical action of getting and using, there is a lot of time and energy the addict doesn’t know where to focus.

Narcotics Anonymous has meetings at various locations and times to help fill that time with positive support and make it easier for the addict to make it successfully through another day of recovery.

4. A Wealth of Information

Narcotics Anonymous can give you direct access to information, resources, and support that you may have difficulty finding on your own. You are surrounded by individuals who have gone through similar struggles and had similar questions.

You are new to recovery, but NA is not. They know where to look for answers, community resources, and assistance options that you may never have heard of.

You don’t have to feel overwhelmed by the process of finding help. There will be a room full of people available to offer suggestions and give you some direction.

Addiction educational resources, support networks, treatment options, and other tools to help ensure a greater chance of success in recovery are available through most groups.

5. A Sense of Belonging and Purpose

When you become lost in addiction, it can be hard to know where to even begin finding yourself again. Narcotics Anonymous can be a major asset in this journey to a healthier and more intimate, accepting relationship with yourself.

It is a place where you’re offered support and appreciated for who you are, without being judged for having the addiction in the first place. Many people feel like NA offers them back their life and gives them purpose and a sense of belonging.

12 step addiction programs offer educational material and self-esteem awareness that can help you regain a sense of worth, belonging, and purpose.

Narcotics Anonymous can help individuals pick up the pieces of their broken lives without the fear of persecution for past mistakes. This can be beneficial for everyone struggling with addiction, from adolescents to the elderly.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Are a Great Resource for a New Start

Recovery can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding journies you ever take in life. It can turn desperation into inspiration and struggles into triumphs when successful.

Narcotics Anonymous meetings are an incredible resource to help addicts find their place in the world, find a new community of support, and find new coping skills and discover new dreams for the future.

To learn more about how to be successful in recovery or to find the right treatment program for you or your loved one, connect with us today.

what is buprenorphine

What Is Buprenorphine and How Can It Help Treat My Heroin Addiction?

/0 Comments/in /by

There are more than 13 million opioid users in the world – and over 9 million of those use heroin.

Heroin is a highly addictive substance that causes severe withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are a major deterrent to getting off the drug. But addiction treatments such as buprenorphine can help.

But what is buprenorphine and what makes it different from other addiction treatments? More importantly, how can it help you or your loved one resolve their addiction?

We’ll tell you all that and more in this guide to buprenorphine. Keep reading for everything you need to know about buprenorphine for addicts.

What is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid. It’s made from an alkaloid known as thebaine and found in the poppy plant Papaver somniferum. It was first used to treat and relieve pain.

Buprenorphine is a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addictions. It’s a safe and effective way to help opioid-users reduce or quit their use of other, more risky, drugs. These include everything from heroin to opiates like morphine or prescription pain relievers.

Buprenorphine works by:

  • decreasing cravings for other, more risky opioids
  • blocking the effects that other opioids have
  • suppressing withdrawal symptoms

Buprenorphine reduces the need for using other opioids. It helps patients stay in treatment, which is crucial to their success.

What Make Buprenorphine Different?

Because it’s an opioid, you’re likely wondering why buprenorphine is an addiction treatment. The answer is that it’s a partial agonist. This makes it different than opioids like heroin and pain relievers like morphine.

Buprenorphine is capable of producing the same effects of full agonist opioids. It also has the same dangerous side effects. The difference is that it does this to a much lesser degree.

It gives a sense of euphoria but with a much lower ceiling on those effects. That means there’s less potential for abuse. It also produces withdrawal symptoms that are much less severe.

In comparison to full opioid agonists, buprenorphine is much safer. It’s less likely to cause addiction and harm.

Taking Buprenorphine for Heroin

At the correct dosage, Buprenorphine curbs the withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin detox. In this way, users can stop misusing the illicit drug without severe withdrawal.

Ideal Candidates

The ideal candidate for buprenorphine is someone physically dependent on an opioid. That includes heroin, morphine, oxycodone, and other full agonist opioids.

You should only get this type of treatment if you’re willing to follow safety precautions. Misusing or abusing buprenorphine can be dangerous. You should know all of your options and the precautions before using buprenorphine.

Your doctor should check that you don’t have any health conditions that conflict with treatment. You should undergo a thorough checkup before beginning to take buprenorphine for heroin or any other dependence.

Types of Buprenorphine for Addiction Treatment

The first buprenorphine treatments available were Subutex and Suboxone. These were approved in 2002 but have since been discontinued. They’re now available under the brand name Suboxone Film.

Suboxone generics can also be found. These were approved in 2013 and generally cost less than the brand names.

Other buprenorphine pharmacological treatments include sublingual tablets under the brand name Zubsolv. There is also a buccal film called Bunavail. Finally, Probuphine is an implant that’s placed under-the-skin for up to 6 months.

Is There Potential For Misuse?

Buprenorphine is an opioid that produces the same effects as an opioid. This fact alone gives it the potential for abuse.

To counter that, all buprenorphine treatments also contain a dosage of naloxone. This opiate antagonist should stop individuals from abusing buprenorphine. Particularly, it deters them from using the treatment intravenously.

But how does it do this?

If buprenorphine tablets are crushed and injected, the naloxone will take immediate effect. The naloxone causes opioid withdrawal. The discomfort caused by withdrawal should hinder addicts from abusing their treatment.

Other Treatments

It’s important to note that taking buprenorphine for heroin and other opioids is not a treatment is an of itself. Buprenorphine can reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms. But it should be used in conjunction with counseling and therapies.

Other important therapies include behavioral therapy and other types of psychological treatment. These offer an opportunity to treat the underlying issues associated with addiction and are just as important as MAT.

Why Use Buprenorphine over Methadone?

If you or a loved one struggles with heroin addiction, you’ve likely heard of methadone. Another synthetic opioid prescription medication, methadone is the traditional treatment for heroin addiction.

Methadone carries less risk than heroin because it doesn’t require injection and it lasts for as long as 24 hours. Addicts only need to take it once a day, so it allows them to remain stable and free of withdrawal symptoms while making other positive changes.

One of the challenges of methadone is that it must be administered in a controlled setting and closely supervised by clinicians. But in 2000, the Drug Addiction Treatment Act made other pharmacological treatments like buprenorphine available to those struggling with addiction.

Now, qualified physicians can prescribe treatment that can be taken at home from their office as well as at community hospitals, correctional facilities, and at the health department. That means that access to treatment is significantly increased.

In addition, buprenorphine has less potential for abuse than methadone. Whereas methadone is a Schedule II substance, buprenorphine is only considered a Schedule III drug.

Get Help Today

So, what is buprenorphine? It’s a MAT for opioid addicts that curbs opiate withdrawal symptoms. Compared to full agonist opioids like heroin and oxycodone, it’s far less harmful, less addictive, and provides a real opportunity for addicts to get their life back on track.

If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin, buprenorphine for addiction treatment has promising results. Contact us today and find out more about your options.

buprenorphine patch

Healing After Heroin: Does the Buprenorphine Patch Really Work?

/0 Comments/in /by

Do you need help in the battle against heroin addiction for you or a loved one?

Experts estimate that over 130 people die each day in the United States from an opioid overdose. Fortunately, arming yourself with a buprenorphine patch may keep you safe from joining this statistic.

Keep reading to learn how this patch can help you kick your heroin addiction.

Using a Buprenorphine Patch for Heroin Addiction

Medication-assisted opioid treatment may help you take your life back from addiction. Read on to learn about buprenorphine and how it can help you kick heroin to the curb.

What Is a Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch?

Buprenorphine, also called Butrans, is an opioid (narcotic) analgesic. This means that the medication works on the central nervous system to change the way the body experiences pain signals.

The patch attaches directly to the body and slowly distributes pain medication through the skin over the course of about 7 days. After removing the patch, this medication will remain in your system for anywhere between 55 and 132 hours.

Doctors often prescribe this medication for chronic pain from arthritis or injuries. It can also help treat opioid addictions.

How Does Butrans Treat Opioid Addiction?

It may seem counterintuitive to treat heroin addiction with another opioid. However, it works differently than more highly addictive opioids, like heroin.

Pharmacologists consider this drug a partial opioid agonist. This means it binds to the same receptors as drugs like heroin. But it only produces a partial reaction.

This means the drug will provide relief from the heroin cravings. Addiction changes the brain and body chemistry, making the person dependent on the drug to even feel normal.

The patch allows them to taper the drug, as they need less and less stimulation to function normally. Without relief from the intense cravings, many people relapse.

This medical patch can also help them through detox. Heroin detoxification causes symptoms, including fatigue, pain, and flu-like sickness. Buprenorphine lessens these effects and treats the pain caused by depriving the body of heroin.

Does Buprenorphine Make You High?

Critics argue that using the buprenorphine patch simply replaces one high for another. However, it does not do that exactly.

As stated above, addicts need a certain amount of the drug to even feel normal. This medication only stimulates the receptor enough to give them that feeling of normalcy. It is not, however, enough to get them high.

In fact, this medication blocks the effect of other opioids. This makes relapse much less likely in a recovering heroin addict, as they will not receive the desired side effects from the drug while taking this medication.

Side Effects

Unfortunately, most medications come with unwanted side effects. On the bright side, Butrans generally creates fewer side effects than alternative opioid treatments.

Side effects of this medication include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • constipation
  • dry mouth
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • headache
  • localized irritation
  • snoring
  • slowed heart rate
  • confusion

Patients will not feel the same euphoric feeling as most other opioids create, which makes this less addictive.

Is It FDA Approved?

The United States government classifies this medication as a schedule III drug. This means that the drug carries low to moderate potential for abuse. However, it also contains benefits for prescribing it that outweigh the potential risks.

In 2018, the FDA approved buprenorphine for medication-assisted opioid treatment. They decided that the crisis urgently required more methods to help treat opioid addiction, due to the high number of deaths the addiction causes.

Can You Overdose on Butrans?

If a person took too much, they could potentially overdose, as with anything else.

However, unlike heroin and other narcotic drugs, this drug has a ceiling on the opioid effects. This means that taking more of the medication will not produce any greater of a high. This makes it highly unlikely for a recovering addict to overdose on the buprenorphine patch.

What Will Help You Stay Sober During Butrans Treatment?

Heroin addiction treatment requires a real effort to stay sober from the recovering addict. Though buprenorphine treatment will help them stay on the road to recovery, it will not magically heal them.

To stay sober while using the patch:

Use as Directed

Whether prescribed during inpatient or outpatient treatment, you should use this patch exactly as directed to receive the full benefits. Not taking it as directed may not keep enough of the medication in your system for it to work properly.

Taking more than directed will not make you high, and may increase the unpleasant side effects. Plus, it is extremely important to change your mindset with medication, using it only for the intended purpose, if you want to succeed at recovery.

Follow the Rules

Treatment programs typically provide a hefty set of rules for you. They do so to protect you and allow you more freedoms as you become ready for them.

Do not think that the patch turns you invincible. Your effort and mindset will do more for you than any medication. Following the rules will enable Butrans to help you through.

Let the Medication Work

If you decide that nothing can help you, then nothing will. Allow this medication to work by giving it a real shot.

When people believe that medicine will not work, they subconsciously fight the effects. Understand both the limitations and the benefits of the drug so you can proceed with realistic expectations.

Surround Yourself with a Support System

Medication can only do so much for you. It works in conjunction with other therapies and tools but does not save you on its own. A healthy network will provide you support that will help you sustain your sobriety.

Leave behind the people who do not want to change. Love them from a distance, but do not allow them to weigh down your recovery success.

Instead, surround yourself with healthy-minded people who want to grow with you and help you succeed. Choose people who support your sobriety and do not tempt you to cheat the system.

Seek Treatment Today

Beating heroin addiction is no small feat. It requires serious determination and often outside help from rehabilitation centers.

Ask your doctor if the buprenorphine patch can help you. Learn more about opioid addiction on our website.

drug treatment

What are My Options for Drug Treatment? Making the Best Choice for You

/0 Comments/in /by

Opioid addiction is a national epidemic, with a devastating impact on all segments of society. Each day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids.

If you or someone you care about is addicted to prescription pain relievers, heroin, or synthetic opioids like fentanyl, it is a scary situation. You may wonder which way to turn.

Luckily, there is help available. The healthcare and criminal justice systems have better information about addiction and the best ways to treat it. People once thought to be hopeless cases have received assistance and treatment.

If you are looking for drug treatment for you or someone you know, there are several different paths you can take. Below are five different routes to clean living which have helped many people. They may help you, too.

1. Detox

For an addict to get clean and stay sober, the first step is to remove all traces of dangerous substances from their systems.

This is far easier said than done. Kicking the habit is difficult and relapsing is common. Withdrawing from drugs can cause many unpleasant and painful symptoms.

Mental and emotional symptoms include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and poor concentration and memory. You might experience headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing, heart racing, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and tremors, and sweats. The addict can also experience seizures, a heart attack, or a stroke.

Most physicians recommend undergoing medically supervised detox. This will reduce withdrawal symptoms and the risk of dangerous complications.

Usually, you must also complete medically supervised detox before entering a treatment facility.

Many detox centers will administer medication to assist with withdrawal from the more dangerous drugs. These drugs can include methadone and buprenorphine. These drugs stop withdrawal symptoms, diminish cravings and block the high from other opioids.

2. Inpatient Rehabilitation

Many addicts find that they need to separate themselves from their former way of life.  They find it hard to quit drugs when they remain the same household or neighborhood where they used to get high.

There are thousands of different treatment centers across the country. There are also many different approaches to sobriety. Many rehab programs combine physician-supervised medications with spirituality, faith-based therapy, behavior modification, and exercise.

A common element of many inpatient treatment centers is cohabiting with other addicts. Some centers require addicts to attend group sessions. In these groups, addicts work together to overcome their shared disease.

The cost of residential treatment varies. Some programs are private pay and can be very expensive. Others may be subsidized and available to people on public assistance.

There is little correlation between how much you spend on treatment and how well it will work for you.

3. Outpatient Rehab

Other addicts may choose to enroll in a professionally supervised program that lets them stay at home. This may be a viable option for people who have young children. If you cannot take time off of work, an outpatient program may be the best option for you.

Many outpatient programs combine medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with therapeutic counseling. A doctor will prescribe a drug like Suboxone. The patient will continue taking it under medical supervision, in addition to attending therapy sessions.

Continuous monitoring of the prescribed medication helps the patient avoid becoming addicted to the new substance as a replacement for the illegal opioid.

MAT works well in conjunction with other therapies like group and family counseling. Medication helps with physical issues, but psychological counseling is necessary to address addiction’s root causes.

4. Individual Treatment

After detox and residential or outpatient treatment, a patient may wish to continue individual counseling as well. Discovering the reasons behind one’s addiction and learning to live without substances can take a long time.

Because drug addiction often runs in families, a patient may wish to engage in family counseling to address issues at home. Ongoing therapy can also address early childhood trauma and other factors, and provide healthy tools for dealing with triggers, stress, and depression.

If a patient has taken Suboxone or other medications in order to kick a drug addiction, he or she should continue seeing a medical doctor who can help them wean off this medicine in the appropriate manner and time frame.

5. Twelve Step Programs

Even alcoholics and drug addicts who have hit rock bottom can find their way back. If a patient has remained clean for three years or more, they are more likely to stay off the illegal drugs for good.

Many recovering addicts need a maintenance program to continue staying clean. They often find that the group sessions in which they engaged while in residential or outpatient treatment continue to be helpful. The support of fellow addicts is important for continued sobriety.

Some former opioid addicts find relief and companionship by attending twelve-step meetings like Narcotics Anonymous. Based on Alcoholics Anonymous, the program encourages working with other addicts and attending meetings in addition to abstinence.

Different groups have different views on medically supervised medications like Suboxone. Because each 12 step program is autonomous, one group may think you cannot be clean while taking a drug like methadone while another group may have a different opinion.

You can find a group that is right for your particular approach to sobriety. Many addicts continue attending meetings with their group many years after finally kicking the habit.

Drug Treatment: Help Is Available

You may notice that there is one option not listed above: kicking the habit by yourself. Going it alone is generally considered an ineffective way to stop taking illegal drugs. Trying to withdraw alone is often futile, and can be dangerous.

Depending on your personality, budget and preference, there are many ways to get sober. There is no right or wrong way, so long as you get help.

Because addiction is so challenging to recover from, we encourage you to get help in whatever way works best for you. Taking drugs that are recommended and prescribed by a medical profession is a viable, legal and safe way that has helped many addicts get off of heroin, oxycontin,o and other drugs.

For more information on whether MAT is the best drug treatment for you, check out our site.

Does Insurance Cover Suboxone?

/0 Comments/in /by

The opioid epidemic continues to devastate America. So much so that it is likely that you or someone you know has been affected by opioid addiction. As a response, addiction treatment has been much more sought after in recent years. One of the more popular treatment methods is the use of Suboxone. Even though it is in high demand, access and affordability can be an issue for some.

What is Suboxone and How it Helps Treat Addiction?

Suboxone is a medication commonly used to treat opioid addiction. The medication consists of buprenorphine and naloxone, which work in tandem at curbing withdrawal symptoms and cravings as well as preventing patients from using it to get high. It typically is used under the supervision of a doctor as part of a treatment plan that consists of medically assisted treatment as well as behavioral therapy.

Drug addiction has a huge effect on the user’s brain. In the case of opioid addiction, it changes the way the receptors in your brain react to opioids. Over time, you build up a tolerance and a need for the opioids. Tolerance causes the user to take more drugs to recreate the original euphoric effects.

A physical need for the drugs causes the user to go into withdrawal if they do not use. Withdrawal symptoms resemble a terrible flu, symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, body aches, chills, and sweating. This fear of withdrawal is what motivates a person to keep using despite any negative effects it would have on their life.

Suboxone works to block the effects of opioids as well as stop withdrawal symptoms. Blocking the high created by opioids aids in one’s recovery by breaking the cycle the brain has of positive reinforcement. If the drugs will not have an effect, you are less likely to use them. Stopping withdrawal symptoms helps people stick to treatment plans because they are not in pain and desperate to alleviate the symptoms. Peer support and therapy help deal with the emotional aspects of drug addiction and are strongly suggested as part of a maintenance treatment program. The habit of drug use can be very hard to break, therefore, the typical length of a Suboxone treatment plan is generally one year. This time can be very beneficial for a person to build the foundations to their sobriety.

Suboxone vs. Methadone

Medically assisted treatment is not a new invention. Suboxone was approved by the FDA in 2002, previously methadone had been the treatment medication of choice. Even though methadone has been around for a long time, Suboxone is quickly becoming a safer, more successful option.

One advantage Suboxone has over Methadone is that due to the low risk of abuse, patients are allowed to take home their doses and only have to go to the doctor monthly. Whereas methadone carries a higher risk of abuse and dependence as well as the risk of overdose causing it to only be administered in supervised clinics. Need for a daily dose requires patients to travel to the methadone clinic daily, while Suboxone being prescribed in a doctor’s office is not only more convenient, it also greatly increases accessibility. With a 40-60% success rate, it is easy to see why Suboxone is the superior choice for medically assisted treatment.

Even with great advancements in the medication available, there is still a decline in people who use medically assisted treatment. Some factors as to why are:

  • Negative opinions about trading one drug for another
  • Discrimination against MAT patients
  • A lack of training for physicians

Paying For Suboxone

Suboxone can be very costly, the typical cost is usually $1 per milligram. Doses of Suboxone range from 12-24 mg per day. Without insurance, they could quickly get extremely expensive. Cost of Suboxone is attributed to the following factors:

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturer
  • Insurance
  • Health plans or prescribing clinic
  • Retail pharmacies

The price of the medication isn’t the only thing to consider when receiving medically assisted treatment. Office visits, therapy, and other required tests should be accounted for in treatment costs. Thanks to recent changes in insurance coverage, most companies now cover Suboxone treatment.

While most insurance companies now offer policies that cover treatment, it is important to know just how much is covered. Any portion of the treatment not covered by your plan will be your responsibility to pay out of pocket. Other factors to consider are time limits for treatment if a referral is needed and if you must receive the prescription from an in-network provider. If help is needed to pay for Suboxone treatment, look for programs that offer payment assistance. Your income will be considered when determining how much treatment will cost. Medicaid also offers coverage for treatment.

Although coverage is available that does not always mean accessing treatment is easy. Any doctor interested in prescribing Suboxone has to meet many legal obligations. In order to prescribe Suboxone, a doctor must be certified. There are also strict regulations on how many patients a doctor can treat every year. Thirdly, the DEA requires strict monitoring of the prescriptions. Those three factors may limit the number of available physicians who are currently accepting patients for Suboxone treatment.

Doctors may also choose to not accept insurance and require cash payment, leaving you to cover the upfront cost of treatment. In these cases, you may submit a claim to your insurance company to be reimbursed. Another downside is that due to our free enterprise system, doctors can decide what they are going to charge. Change is coming; however, many states have passed laws requiring insurance companies to cover addiction treatment. That being said, thorough research is best to find the right doctor and insurance company.

Treatment is not one size fits all, doing adequate research is vital to finding the perfect plan for you. Knowing your options and what to consider is an integral step in your analysis. Once the conversation is started, many companies will work with you. Take the time to examine your financial situation and the cost of care. Most importantly reach out. There is someone out there to help you navigate the road to treatment.

 

Sources

[1] Persistent and Abusive Use of Opioids: Short- and Long-Term Effects on the Brain. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/media/persistent-and-abusive-use-of-opioids

[2] Velander J. R. (2018). Suboxone: Rationale, Science, Misconceptions. The Ochsner journal, 18(1), 23–29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855417/

[3] Government of South Australia. (2019, February). Buprenorphine/naloxone for opioid dependence. Retrieved from https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/resources/buprenorphine+naloxone+for+opioid+dependence+important+points+to+know+about+buprenorphine+naloxone+suboxone

[4] Does Medicaid or Insurance Cover The Cost of Suboxone? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/insurance-coverage/suboxone

[5] The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment. (2018, December). Does insurance cover it? Retrieved from https://www.naabt.org/faq_answers.cfm?ID=37

 

 

 

What to Look For in a Suboxone Clinic

/0 Comments/in /by

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 medicine, 2(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