How Suboxone Along With One-on-One Therapy Is Saving Lives

In 2020, drug overdose deaths related to opioids reached 68,630, about 75% of all drug overdose deaths. However, Suboxone coupled with one-on-one therapy can help save lives. Do you have a family member, friend, or acquaintance who is struggling with opiate use disorder? If so, check out our article to learn how medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone can help them recover.

About Suboxone

Suboxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat addiction to opioids. It does so by reducing addiction symptoms and controlling cravings for drugs like fentanyl, oxycodone, heroin, and codeine. Moreover, Suboxone aids in opioid withdrawal. It contains both buprenorphine and naloxone.

Buprenorphine

A partial agonist, buprenorphine can provide relief to individuals experiencing opioid withdrawal. When taken the right way, it prevents opioids from interacting with receptors in the nervous system. Moreover, buprenorphine mitigates the euphoric or rewarding feeling that people taking opioids experience.

Compared to methadone and other opioids, buprenorphine produces fewer effects on respiratory depression, so the risk of overdose is also lower. In the United States, the common forms of buprenorphine are tablets and films that you can absorb under your tongue.

Naloxone

Another ingredient found in Suboxone is naloxone. An opioid antagonist, naloxone is responsible for blocking and reversing the effects of opioids on your nervous system. While it’s not technically a medication for opioid use disorder (OUD), it’s used in medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone to avoid risks of overdose from buprenorphine.

Moreover, naloxone can reduce the chances of relapse. Suboxone will then help prevent the addictive or euphoric sensations you normally feel when taking opioids.

Before taking Suboxone, you should inform your doctor if you have liver, kidney, or breathing problems, sleep apnea, or head injury. Using Suboxone while you’re pregnant puts the infant at risk of becoming dependent on the drug.

Effectiveness of Suboxone Treatment and Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder

Research shows that mortality risk becomes lower by around 50% for people with OUD who undergo long-term treatment with buprenorphine or methadone compared to those who don’t. Moreover, medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone can help decrease opioid overdose deaths.

Moreover, treatment involving buprenorphine and methadone has been linked to lower rates of using other opioids. Several other potential benefits include reducing risks of HIV diagnosis, enhancing social functioning, and improving the overall quality of life. The use of Suboxone in office settings has also been shown to substantially reduce the craving and use of opioids.

While Suboxone helps treat physical problems, including reducing cravings and withdrawal with medications, one-on-one therapy is beneficial in addressing behavioral and mental health problems. Whether it’s self-esteem issues, trauma, anxiety, or depression, you’ll get the support you need and learn ways to manage them.

You’ll have a more personalized recovery plan based on your situation, goals, and needs. By combining Suboxone and one-on-one therapy, you can soon develop healthier habits and make positive changes in your life.

Final Thoughts

When taken properly, Suboxone can facilitate the recovery of individuals suffering from opioid use disorder by reducing cravings and withdrawal as well as preventing the risk of overdose. For a more effective treatment, it is combined with one-on-one therapy to address the underlying reasons and triggers behind the addiction. With the right treatment process and support, the road to recovery can become smoother.

-- Abdul Alim - 2022-11-26

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