One of the newest medications used to treat addiction is called, Suboxone. If a person you care about or know is addicted to opiates, or if you are having problems with opiate addiction, the good news is that it is easy to get help. When it was learned that addiction was more widespread than previously thought, new methods of treatment were quickly developed. There are now management and referral centers available in every US County, making treatment easier to access than ever before.
The latest trend and the most successful one to date, is to use medication as standard procedure when treating addiction. Formally, Methadone was the only medication used regularly to help addicts and its use was restricted to the most difficult cases to treat. Addicts had to prove that they were incapable of recovery without using Methadone. This archaic practice has been replaced by the realization that the process of recovery can be made simpler and easier with the use of medication as long as the addict also agrees to follow a regimen of therapy and other interventions.
Just as Methadone does, Suboxone blocks the sensations of withdrawal and the continued need for opiates in addicts. It is easier to use and much safer than Methadone and therefore can be prescribed by an attending physician instead of only being available at specialized centers or hospitals. It is also much easier to stop the medication when the time comes, without experiencing feelings of withdrawal. Suboxone is also ideal for someone who is more recently addicted and whose dependency is not as great as some longer-termed addicts may be. Longer-term addicts may require a much stronger medication and suboxone does not increase its effects with higher doses. Suboxone is also the only likely medication to use if the addict plans to eventually live free of drug dependence.
The first step in starting treatment is to fully understand all the options available. Talking to a physician who works with addicts or a psychiatrist in the field of addictions is the best way to get and understand all of the appropriate information available. In order to make an informed decision, the addict must decide which treatment options have the highest chance of success given his or her past and present circumstances. If there is any doubt, it is always easier to start with the lowest and safest option; it is easier to increase than decrease medication. Remember: Methadone maintenance means continued use of a narcotic for an indefinite period of time, and close, daily supervision, while suboxone means an eventual end to addiction and more freedom.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as painless withdrawal from opiates. If an addict is thinking about going into a hospital that promises pain free withdrawal, he or she should do some checking, first. The practices need to be recognized as acceptable and the hospital’s reputation should be impeccable. Addiction, by its very definition, means the addict’s body requires the drug to function correctly. This means it is going to react negatively, in some form, when the narcotic is not available. Once the initial withdrawal has been accomplished, by any means, the battle is only half won. Now the addict must learn to live a life that is opiate-free and this is the hardest battle of all.
Suboxone can help to alleviate the physical need for narcotics; it will also make using any form of narcotic useless, due to a blocking effect in the brain. The addict must still confront the psychological problems of living opiate free. The high of the drug and the lifestyle associated with the addiction are as important as the physical need and the reason the person first began using the drug. It will require intensive therapy and a strong support system to help the addict take those important steps toward living a life free of addiction.
Suboxone makes it easier to return to a life that is narcotic free. It is more difficult to return to a former life when using Methadone because the person will always need to be close to the clinic to obtain medication. Methadone is easy to abuse or sell and this means its use and distribution must be monitored closely. Because higher doses of Suboxone do not create a feeling of euphoria, it is less likely to be abused; it is therefore prescribed in the same manner as other medications and the person is given much more freedom. This makes finding employment or starting school much easier. Suboxone also has less effect on the clarity of thought than Methadone, making concentration easier.
For the person who truly wishes to live a life free of opiates, Suboxone is, by far, the best answer. Beginning again is always difficult, but renewing old friendships and finding new meaning in life is a wonderful alternative the bleak existence of addiction. It is a life worth living.
