If you are a fan of Batman, hero of Gotham City (and surely you are), you are probably familiar with Two-Face—a man whose decisions about whether to do good or evil are often determined by the flip of a coin he always carries with him. Two-Face is a compelling comic book villain and a metaphor for the duality of humans, but for our purposes he might also serve as a metaphor for a pharmaceutical that can be used for good or used destructively, depending on the context.
That drug is Suboxone—an opiate that can be an effective tool in helping someone overcome an opiate addiction but can also be at the center of a substance use disorder if misused. That adds a layer of complexity to any consideration of the drug. Is it good? Is it bad?
The fact is, it can be either one. It all depends on the situation.
Let’s look at both sides of the coin that is Suboxone.
On the Obverse Side of the Coin—Suboxone and Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment for a substance use disorder is just what it sounds like: an approach to detoxification and rehabilitation that employs medications as a way to help someone get sober and stay sober. Many positive outcomes are connected with medication-assisted treatment, including higher treatment retention rates, marked improvement in the likelihood of finding and maintaining a job, a decrease in the use of illicit drugs (and of any related illegal activity related to the acquisition or use of those drugs), and higher overall survival rates.
As we have noted, Suboxone—which is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone—is often used for medication-assisted treatment of an opiate addiction. By binding itself to the brain receptors that are affected by other opiates (for example, heroin, oxycodone, and morphine), Suboxone lessens the impact of those drugs. It can also assist in the management of cravings, thereby lessening the chance of relapse.
Bel Aire Recovery Center employs Suboxone as part of our medication-assisted treatment program, taking advantage of what is broadly considered to be a safe and effective option for those battling a substance use disorder centered on an opiate.
On the Reverse Side of the Coin—Suboxone Abuse and Withdrawal
Maybe you were nodding along as you read about the ways in which Suboxone can be helpful in a treatment setting. But maybe you also furrowed your brow at the notion that an opiate could be used to treat opiate addiction. We readily acknowledge the apparent contradiction. And we also acknowledge that a person can develop an addiction to Suboxone.
Like any drug—whether it is a prescription medication, an over-the-counter remedy, a legal recreational drug, or an illicit substance—Suboxone can be misused. And that misuse can lead to a substance use disorder.
Some of the warning signs that you may have a problem with Suboxone are behavioral. Maybe you are seeing multiple physicians in the hope of getting additional prescriptions. Maybe you are “borrowing” (or outright stealing) the drug from others. Maybe you are taking more of the drug than has been prescribed. Maybe you are mixing Suboxone with other drugs or alcohol to try to increase the intensity of the high that results. Any and all of those things point toward a significant problem.
Other signs of a substance use disorder related to Suboxone are more physical or mental. They could include nausea and/or vomiting, constipation, physical or emotional numbness, slowed breathing, and/or a feeling and appearance of drowsiness or sedation (or of being high or intoxicated).
If you were experiencing those unpleasant side effects, you might decide the high simply is not worth it (we could not agree more). And so the logical thing to do is to quit taking the drug. But unfortunately, the uncomfortable and challenging symptoms may well continue once you stop taking Suboxone. Withdrawal symptoms related to Suboxone may include nausea, vomiting, and/or indigestion; muscle or body aches; fever, chills, and/or sweating; trouble sleeping or persistent drowsiness; headaches; problems concentrating; and/or intense cravings for the drug.
You might find those symptoms difficult to overcome on your own. The final irony here may be that the best thing you can do for yourself is to get help at a residential treatment center—the same sort of facility that might be using the drug to which you are addicted to help other people with their own addictions to other opiates. Again, those are the two sides of the Suboxone coin.
Getting Help Should Not Come Down to a Coin Flip
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, making a good choice about where to get the help you need is absolutely essential. We cannot emphasize enough that a fully accredited facility like Bel Aire Recovery Center is your best choice.
At Bel Aire Recovery Center, we will take the time to listen to you so that we have a full picture of your individual situation—a picture that goes beyond simply determining what substance or substances you are using. We are committed to personalized, nonjudgmental, evidence-based treatment that addresses your specific needs.
Those needs may well include addressing co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, or trauma-based disorders. Your treatment will likely include both individual and group therapy. In many cases, individuals turn to drugs or alcohol to “self-medicate” and manage their mental health struggles. At Bel Aire Recovery Center, we have the experience and expertise necessary to help you find far better strategies for improving and maintaining your mental health—which in turn will help you maintain your hard-won sobriety.
You should not flip a coin to pick the place where you will get help for your substance use disorder. We are wholly dedicated to making Bel Aire Recovery Center the obvious choice.
