It seems that lately one of the most popular questions besides what actually happens in an alcohol drug treatment program is whether or not a patient will need to be medically managed using Suboxone or Subutex. It certainly depends on the type of drug(s) the person has been abusing. If it is not an opioid then the answer would be no.
What is an opioid and how common is it?
Generally speaking opioids are pain relievers of a synthetic nature that have the effects of opium. Drugs like Codeine, Heroin, Morphine, and a multitude of prescription drugs are all examples of an opioid.
Since the 1970’s, the misuse of opioid pain relievers has increased dramatically. Over 4.5 million people ages 12 and older misused pain relievers in 2003 and in 2001 almost 2.5 million people had used pain relievers non-medically for the first time, which means they used them for recreational purposes.
Which is better: Subutex or Suboxone for treatment?
It would certainly depend on the patient and what the physician feels best suits the recovery situation. Both Subutex and Suboxone are brand names and both of them contain the generic drug buprenorphine. The main difference between them is that Suboxone has the additional drug, Naloxone. Naloxone is a drug that reverses the effects of the opioid, and buprenorphine prevents the withdrawal symptoms. Both are very successful and are absorbed under the tongue.
In about 99% of the cases using either one of these drugs during detoxification is considered to be very comfortable. As always though, the best way to invest in chemical dependency recovery is first through counseling and treatment. If someone has a safe and sober place to live during treatment they should consider an outpatient program because it isn’t necessary that once someone begins buprenorphine they pull themselves out of school or work; one can detoxify through an outpatient program.