How Suboxone Is Used For Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction can be a powerful type of addiction to overcome. Fortunately, having the right tools available, including medication, can give you a good chance at stopping opioid use and moving forward from addiction.
Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms
When you first enter treatment, you'll need to immediately abstain from opioids, if you have not already stopped. This can be one of the hardest phases because withdrawal comes with physiological symptoms, some of which can be dangerous. The use of a Suboxone treatment during withdrawal can reduce or alleviate many of the unpleasant symptoms associated with withdrawal. During withdrawal, this is one of the most vulnerable times you may experience since taking drugs would stop the nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, making continued drug use more tempting. Suboxone provides a safer route to withdrawal than would be experienced by going "cold turkey," potentially allowing you to go through withdrawal without returning to drugs.
Medication Management
After withdrawing from opioids, the next challenge will be cravings. Suboxone can be used short or long-term to manage opioid cravings. Another advantage to medication management is the medication also acts as an opioid agonist. This means even if you slip-up and use drugs, they will not have the same effects because Suboxone is blocking them from reaching the receptor sites. The effectiveness of medication management is contingent on your continued use of the medication, without trying to circumvent the effects of Suboxone by not taking the medication. Eventually, the goal is to reduce the amount of Suboxone you take to reduce your dependence on the medication without going back to other drugs.
Part Of A Multidimensional Plan
Suboxone is a major part of a treatment plan to fight against opioid addiction, but it's only one component. You should engage in any treatment strategies available to you. The most common adjunctive treatment is therapy and/or the use of psychiatric medications. Many people who abuse opioids have concurrent problems, such as chronic pain, which may have precipitated opioid use, or mental illness that was never adequately treated. Other parts of a treatment plan may include education or job training. Obtaining a degree or job training may help you find a job or develop long-term career goals and increase the likelihood of staying clean.
The use of medications in an opioid treatment program can allow for a safer withdrawal from opioids and may increase the chances of staying clean. Engaging in all components of a treatment plan will give you a better chance at beating the odds.