If you are addicted to opioids, chances are you have considered suboxone treatment Richmond – an increasingly popular treatment for opiate addiction. Suboxone is a combination medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone; the former binds to the same opioid receptors, blunting intoxication with other drugs and preventing cravings. Despite its increasing popularity as an addiction treatment, there has been a lot of debate about whether suboxone creates more dependency. The following are examples of myths about suboxone, which add a barrier to treatment for people suffering from opiate addiction.
Suboxone is not a viable addiction treatment without therapy
Ideally, when treating addiction, specialists combine medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) with recovery coaching, employment support, support groups, and housing assistance. However, this does not mean that one component without others does not constitute proper treatment. Combination treatment is an admirable goal, but it is impractical for everyone struggling with opioid addiction to receive the necessary treatment. Furthermore, many people who suffer from addiction often have no access to regular health care and health insurance.
Suboxone treatment alone without therapy has proven effective, but it can be more helpful if combined with recovery coaching, therapy, or other additional support.
Suboxone treatment is a quick fix
Suboxone does not instantly cure opioid addiction; it is often part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes counseling and other support therapies that address the root cause of someone’s addiction, like past trauma or chronic pain. When taken as directed, suboxone treatment has a 40% to 60% success rate, which is significantly higher than the under 25% for individuals who attempt to abruptly cease using a substance. However, this is far from being a shortcut to a clean life.
No one will believe I’m in recovery when taking suboxone
It is stigmatizing for anyone to think that you are not in recovery when taking suboxone; this is not the medical reality of effective suboxone treatment. Unfortunately, social stigmas can significantly affect your choices, especially when putting yourself in a position where others think less of you.
If you are an opioid addict, you are more likely to have experienced stigma, so the occasional judgment of misinformed people should not faze you or stop you from seeking the treatment you need. If you can, educate those in your support circle and let the rest figure it out. Your new sober life will speak for itself once you have overcome the addiction.
Suboxone is swapping one addiction for another
Abstinence from drugs has always been the traditional approach to addiction treatment. However, this method has been ineffective, especially without supportive therapies such as talk therapy, in-house monitoring, and other supports. As such, healthcare providers now use medication-assisted therapy to treat opiate addiction. Addiction is a chronic medical condition that needs to be treated with medication, just as you would treat type 1 diabetes with insulin shots.
Suboxone should be taken for a short period
There are different theories on the duration of suboxone treatment, but no evidence supports the claim that suboxone should be taken for a short period. One can take suboxone for the long term, just as a patient managing their hypertension with medications.
Contact On the Mark Healthcare Services to consult an addiction specialist about whether suboxone treatment is appropriate.
