“Why is suboxone recommended for drug addiction?”
My main question is why is there such a controversy prescribing suboxone for a drug addiction. Some specialists recommend it, while others really don't. Why do some doctors don't really like prescribing it for addiction?
2 Answers
It is only for opioid addiction. There is no controversy for anyone who knows addiction psychiatry or medicine. It is very dangerous, stupid belief systems that kill people who are told not to take it.
Suboxone has some real pluses and minuses. Let's start with the minuses: if you're an opiate addict, you basically have to take it forever, at least several years. Shorter courses usually lead to relapse. Many addicts get tired of being sober and go on and off Suboxone, keeping it around so when they run out of their preferred opiate, they can prevent withdrawal. Suboxone has value on the street, so some addicts who are close to the streets wind up selling it and buying dope.
The benefits are clear. If you take Suboxone as directed (usually 8-24 mg/day), the success rate of maintaining sobriety rises from 5% with abstinence (not taking any medication at all) to over 50%. It dramatically lowers the risk of death from overdose. Many people who simply stop opiates without medication go through months of "post-acute withdrawal" they feel exhausted, depressed, unable to enjoy anything, and crave drugs intensely. Suboxone almost always prevents all these symptoms. It's pretty good at treating depression. Family members are often thrilled to find their son/daughter/spouse/sibling is back to their old, pre-addiction self. Used properly, the outcome is amazing. There are some minor exceptions, but basically Suboxone is incredibly safe and won't hurt your liver, kidneys, or other organs.
But the biggest problem with Suboxone is toxic ideology. You=E2=80=99ll run into hundreds of people who consider Suboxone =E2=80=9Cjust another drug. You can do it without taking anything.=E2=80=9D That=E2=80=99s like saying you don=E2=80=99t ever need to use seatbelts in your car, which is a terrible idea. Many doctors won=E2=80=99t prescribe Suboxone because they don=E2=80=99t want to treat =E2=80=A6 ADDICTS! It=E2=80=99s frequently hard to find physicians who will prescribe it, and many of the prescribing MDs run mills where you=E2=80=99re in and out in five minutes and pay $100 just for the prescription.=20
The scientific evidence supporting Suboxone is overwhelming. Taken as directed, it promotes sobriety and saves lives. But you=E2=80=99ve got to overcome all the naysayers.
.
The benefits are clear. If you take Suboxone as directed (usually 8-24 mg/day), the success rate of maintaining sobriety rises from 5% with abstinence (not taking any medication at all) to over 50%. It dramatically lowers the risk of death from overdose. Many people who simply stop opiates without medication go through months of "post-acute withdrawal" they feel exhausted, depressed, unable to enjoy anything, and crave drugs intensely. Suboxone almost always prevents all these symptoms. It's pretty good at treating depression. Family members are often thrilled to find their son/daughter/spouse/sibling is back to their old, pre-addiction self. Used properly, the outcome is amazing. There are some minor exceptions, but basically Suboxone is incredibly safe and won't hurt your liver, kidneys, or other organs.
But the biggest problem with Suboxone is toxic ideology. You=E2=80=99ll run into hundreds of people who consider Suboxone =E2=80=9Cjust another drug. You can do it without taking anything.=E2=80=9D That=E2=80=99s like saying you don=E2=80=99t ever need to use seatbelts in your car, which is a terrible idea. Many doctors won=E2=80=99t prescribe Suboxone because they don=E2=80=99t want to treat =E2=80=A6 ADDICTS! It=E2=80=99s frequently hard to find physicians who will prescribe it, and many of the prescribing MDs run mills where you=E2=80=99re in and out in five minutes and pay $100 just for the prescription.=20
The scientific evidence supporting Suboxone is overwhelming. Taken as directed, it promotes sobriety and saves lives. But you=E2=80=99ve got to overcome all the naysayers.
.
