Total abstinence is ultimately our goal for each of our clients. However, we also recognize that some are more prone to relapse than others. For some, a medical intervention to control cravings, in conjunction with their primary therapeutic program, can be the difference between long-lasting sobriety and relapse.
Suboxone therapy is another treatment option for opioid addiction, including heroin, Oxycontin (oxycodone), and morphine among many others. Much like methadone, suboxone is prescribed by a physician and strictly supervised by our medical staff. Suboxone works to suppress withdrawal symptoms and control physical cravings, helping you to successfully stay in drug addiction treatment and achieve long-term sobriety.
At Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab Center, our licensed physician can prescribe suboxone to supplement our core therapeutic program, which includes private and group cognitive behaviour therapy sessions. Both our physician and psychotherapists are experienced in adapting our drug addiction program to incorporate suboxone therapy in order to best help you.
What is suboxone therapy?
Suboxone is a combination medication, with buprenorphine and naloxone as its two main ingredients. Buprenorphine, a partial opiate agonist, works to replace the physical effects of the opioid, aiding with both withdrawal symptoms and physical cravings, helping to stabilize you during your first stages of drug addiction treatment. The naloxone has been added to the suboxone medication in order to prevent any abuse or misuse.
Suboxone is taken orally, dissolving under the tongue. Doses of suboxone vary according to the individual addiction. Over time, though, a doctor may elect to gradually decrease your dose until your suboxone therapy ends. Suboxone, although from the opioid family, does not have the same strong high or dangerous side effects of other opioids.
Suboxone Therapy is Not the Cure
It is important to remember, when considering if suboxone therapy is right for you, that it is not a cure for your addiction, but part of an overall drug addiction treatment program. Suboxone therapy, when used properly, can be very useful. Studies have shown that adults treated with suboxone in conjunction with a comprehensive addiction treatment program for 12 weeks, much like at Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab Center, had substantially better outcomes. According to a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), clients were less likely to use opioids, cocaine, marijuana, or intravenous drugs and were less likely to drop out of their treatment programs.