According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 50,000 people lost their lives to opioid-related overdoses in 2019. The misuse of and addiction to opioids -- including heroin, prescription pain relievers, and synthetic opioids -- is a serious national health crisis with far-reaching social and economic effects.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends the use of medication-assisted treatment, such as a suboxone program, as a means of countering this epidemic. In combination with behavioral therapies and counseling, MAT provides a holistic patient approach to help them overcome their drug abuse. Here's what you should know about suboxone programs and how they may help you or someone you love.
A suboxone clinic is a medication-assisted treatment center that offers a suboxone program for opioid dependence treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approvals to three main drugs for use in MAT: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Suboxone is a buprenorphine-derived product containing buprenorphine and naloxone. The two components work chemically to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms, reducing your dependence on opioids in the long term.
Suboxone is administered in an approved drug addiction clinic after a careful assessment by a physician. It comes in two forms: sublingual film or a tablet, both of which dissolve in the mouth. The two methods offer the same results. You may need to discuss your preference with the doctor at the suboxone clinic in Tucson.
Buprenorphine, the main ingredient, is a partial opioid agonist. When an individual takes pain relievers or street opioids, the drug attaches to specific receptors in the brain. When “fully occupied,” the brain perceives the pain as reduced. Buprenorphine partially fills the same receptors, satisfying enough receptors to curb cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the opioid receptors from the agonists. It can counteract the high that you would have otherwise felt from the buprenorphine. Together, the two minimize the severity of opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
The suboxone program ensures that the doses are slowly decreased over time, enabling the patient to achieve recovery without the intense suffering associated with withdrawals. The heroin treatment clinic in Tucson can closely monitor your progress in the MAT.
Federal law requires patients enrolled in medication-assisted opioid treatment, including a suboxone program to attend counseling and behavioral therapy. A combination of regular primary care at the suboxone clinic in Tucson and substance abuse counseling can keep your mind and body in good health for recovery.
MAT with suboxone and other buprenorphine-derived medications are highly effective options. Research shows that suboxone may have a far lower risk of dependency as compared to methadone. The side effects of its use are also less severe.
However, it is important to note that patients using suboxone cannot take alcohol or benzothiazines. These substances combined with buprenorphine can severely depress your central nervous system, including your respiratory function. You may need to consult the physician at the drug addiction clinic in Tucson before commencing your suboxone program.
Suboxone is an effective buprenorphine-derived product approved for use in treating opioid addictions. The suboxone program uses medication and psychosocial therapy to increase your odds for a full recovery better. For more information on medication-assisted opioid treatment, kindly contact Desert Palm Clinic in Tucson, AZ.