What is Suboxone and how does it work? Discover the truth behind the myths surrounding the use of Suboxone to treat opioid addiction.

Understanding Suboxone and Its Role in Opioid Addiction Treatment

Suboxone, a combination medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone, is one of the primary medications used to treat opioid addiction. This type of treatment, known as Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of fatal overdoses by approximately 50%. It also lowers the risk of nonfatal overdoses, which can be both traumatic and medically dangerous.

Suboxone works by tightly binding to the same receptors in the brain as other opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. By doing so, it blunts the intoxication from these other drugs, prevents cravings, and allows many people to transition from a life of addiction to a life of normalcy and safety.

Myth #1: You Aren’t Really in Recovery if You’re on Suboxone

Reality: While the definition of “recovery” may vary, the traditional abstinence-based models that have dominated addiction care are giving way to more modern conceptions that encompass the use of medications like Suboxone. Addiction is increasingly viewed as a medical condition, and Suboxone is seen as a medication for a chronic condition, similar to how a person with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin. Claiming that you aren’t really in recovery if you’re on Suboxone is stigmatizing and not in line with the medical reality of effective addiction treatment.

Myth #2: People Frequently Misuse Suboxone

Reality: Suboxone, like any opioid and many other medications, can be misused. However, because it is only a “partial” agonist of the main opioid receptor (the “mu” receptor), it causes much less euphoria than other opioids like heroin and oxycodone. In many cases, people may use Suboxone (or “misuse” it, if that is defined as using it illegally) to help themselves manage withdrawal or even get off heroin or fentanyl. If Suboxone were more widely available to those who need it, they wouldn’t have to resort to self-treatment, which we should avoid blaming as the “victims” here.

Myth #3: It’s as Easy to Overdose on Suboxone as It Is to Overdose with Other Opioids

Reality: It is extremely difficult to overdose on Suboxone alone. Suboxone has a much lower risk of overdose compared to other opioids because it is only a partial opioid receptor agonist, which means there is a limit to how much the opioid receptors can be activated by Suboxone. When people do overdose on Suboxone, it is almost always because they are mixing it with sedatives such as benzodiazepines, which also slow breathing.

Myth #4: Suboxone Isn’t Treatment for Addiction if You Aren’t Getting Therapy Along with It

Reality: Ideally, addiction treatment should include MOUD as well as therapy, recovery coaching, support groups, housing assistance, and employment support. However, that doesn’t mean that one component, in the absence of all the others, doesn’t constitute valid treatment for addiction. Currently, only about 10-20% of people with opioid use disorder are receiving adequate treatment due to flaws in the healthcare system and shortages of qualified providers. While combination treatment is the goal, it is unrealistic to expect everyone with an addiction to receive all the necessary components, especially when many lack access to regular healthcare and health insurance. Treatment with Suboxone alone, without therapy, has been proven to be effective, and it can be even more effective when combined with other forms of support.

Addressing the Myths and Increasing Access to Suboxone

The persistence of these myths about Suboxone adds further barriers to treatment for people suffering from opioid addiction. As addiction is increasingly viewed as a medical condition, the use of Suboxone and other MOUD should be seen as a legitimate and effective approach to managing this chronic disease. Efforts to increase the availability of Suboxone prescribers, reduce stigma, and educate the public and healthcare providers are crucial in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis and saving lives.

The Importance of Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment

The myths surrounding Suboxone highlight the need for a greater emphasis on evidence-based addiction treatment. As the medical and scientific communities have come to understand addiction as a chronic, relapsing condition, the use of MOUD like Suboxone has become a critical component of effective treatment. By addressing these myths and increasing access to Suboxone, we can help more people with opioid use disorder transition to a life of recovery and safety.