1. Suboxone Suppresses the Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal
Over the past two decades the problem of opiate addiction has grown dramatically with the increased abuse of prescription painkillers such as oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). Withdrawal from opiates, including heroin, morphine and other narcotics, is a miserable experience and the main reason abusers of these drugs continue using. Withdrawal feels like a bad case of the flu. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, dilated pupils and runny nose. The primary ingredient in Suboxone is buprenorphine hydrochloride, which is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it acts like an opiate in the brain so it suppresses the symptoms of withdrawal.
2. Suboxone Helps to Decrease Cravings
Suboxone can be prescribed by a doctor, rather than having to be distributed through a special clinic, such as with methadone. It is, however, designed to be a maintenance medication, not just used to get someone through withdrawal. Opiate addiction is very tough to kick because of strong cravings. Because Suboxone acts like an opiate in the brain, it can decrease drug cravings, allowing someone a better chance to succeed in treatment without being plagued by powerful cravings.
3. Withdrawal Isn't Always a Bad Thing
Some people in the recovery field believe that experiencing the discomfort of withdrawal and remembering how awful it was can help discourage recovering addicts from returning to using again in the future. By removing this negative experience with a medication like Suboxone, some argue, you are removing a valuable consequence that can help prevent relapse. Opiate withdrawal is very uncomfortable, but it's not life threatening. Counselors will often tell patients that they may feel like they're going to die when they're in withdrawal, but they won't. The greatest danger of withdrawal is returning to drug use.
4. Suboxone Can't Be Injected to Get High
Suboxone also contains naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist and discourages users from dissolving the tablet and injecting the drug, which would throw them into immediate withdrawal. Suboxone tablets are meant to be placed under the tongue.
5. Recovery Requires More Than Medication
Although Suboxone is often used as a maintenance drug to aid in recovering from opiate dependence, its primary benefit is enabling people to stay and succeed in treatment or therapy so they can lead healthy, productive lives. Physiological dependence is just one aspect of addiction--all areas of life are affected when drug abuse is present. If a doctor prescribes Suboxone to help you through withdrawal, make sure you have adequate support to succeed in long-term recovery.
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