Suboxone Myths: Learn The Truth

The nation is facing an epidemic of monumental proportions. The concern surrounding addiction is not new but is growing. Addiction can tear at familial seams, create other mental health problems, stir up personal problems, and even lead to death.

More people today are dying from opioid overdoses than any other accidental death. Substance abuse treatment centers, support groups, and medical centers are all designed to help curve an addict in the hopes of keeping them clean. However, relapse rates still remain high.

One of the top abused drugs is heroin. Suboxone, a drug originally formulated for pain, was approved under the Drug Treatment Act Of 2000 to be used to help treat opioid addiction and help addicts recover.

Myths Surrounding Suboxone

• Suboxone Treatment is More Dangerous than Other Alternatives for Treating Pain: Suboxone is actually quite a simple treatment. A treatment facility or medical center can create a treatment plan for an addict incorporating suboxone. Suboxone is no more dangerous than any other prescription treatment for opioid addiction and chronic pain. A medical professional will monitor usage and keep tabs on your progress. Any adjusts that need to be made will be made.
• Use of Suboxone is Just Replacing One Evil with Another: Unfortunately, there is a stigma surrounding addiction treatment. Suboxone is a prescribed medication used to treat addiction and won’t cause a new addiction if used properly. Most of the time these myths are spread by people who are not educated about prescriptions used to help treat addiction and assume Suboxone serves as a gateway drug. In reality, medication-assisted treatment is common for opioid use and is FDA approved.
• Rehabilitation is Proven to be More Effective than Suboxone: There is no evidence suggesting that rehabilitation and detox are more effective than prescription medication for overcoming drug addiction. Medication-assisted treatment does not replace rehabilitation, however. Consult with a medical professional to find a treatment plan that is right for you. Most patients on the road to recovery find that a mix of both medication and support groups or therapy help them to remain sober.
• Getting a Prescription for Suboxone Takes Too Much Time: Obtaining a Suboxone prescription is as easy as visiting your local medical center or treatment facility licensed to prescribe Suboxone. The medical professional will ask you standard questions regarding your chronic pain and run laboratory tests. This process is no longer than any other procedures to obtain medication for drug addiction.
• Suboxone Gives the Same High as Heroin: A common misconception surrounding Suboxone is that it can produce the same euphoric feelings or “high” that heroin produces. However, it is very rare that a patient will experience any euphoric effects and if they do it will feel very weak. This is because a patient will work closely with their doctor to find a dosage that will work for them.
• It’s Easy to Overdose on Suboxone: A very dangerous myth that surrounds Suboxone is that it is easy to overdose on it. This prevents a lot of addicts from ever considering Suboxone as an option. In fact, when compared to other opiates, it would be really difficult for an addict to overdose on Suboxone. Suboxone is designed to work as a weakened opioid. Suboxone contains naloxone, which is activated when the drug is attempted to be misused. It causes symptoms similar to withdrawal. It helps to prevent people from overdosing and from abusing the drug.
• Suboxone is Frequently Abused: It’s a common misconception that Suboxone is frequently abused. Any prescription medication has the possibility to be abused. Since Suboxone is designed for opioid abusers, it has ingredients that help to prevent abuse and overdose. This is a deterrent to addicts who may want to abuse the drug and makes abuse of the drug a rare case.
• Suboxone Should Only be Used for a Short Period of Time: A medical professional will be able to determine just how long an addict should remain on Suboxone. Every addict is different and therefore every addict’s treatment plan will vary. A detailed plan along with a prescription will be given to the patient. These guidelines must be followed to achieve maximum results.

Medication-Assisted Treatment & Rehabilitation

These myths surrounding Suboxone and medication-assisted treatment options can have dangerous repercussions. They can overshadow the success of Suboxone and turn addicts away from a medication that could help them stay clean.

Suboxone has been regarded as being superior to Methadone in quite a few factors, while they have the same retention rate. Suboxone reduces the rates of overdoses and drug abuse cases while prescribed the drug, as well as significantly improved the quality of life for several individuals.

While Suboxone is an option to talk about with a healthcare professional, it is also important for an addict to remain involved with treatment centers or support groups.

Suboxone cannot replace the positive social and cognitive benefits of support groups and rehabilitation centers, as they both offer very clear positives. The use of Suboxone should always first be discussed with a primary doctor or treatment facility where the addict is located.

 

Sources

[1] Suboxone: Rationale, Science, Misconceptions. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855417

[2] Primary Care and the Opioid-Overdose Crisis? Buprenorphine Myths and Realities | NEJM. (2018, July 4). Retrieved from https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp1802741