Are you or a loved one looking for a sober living program? Give us a call! 424-327-4614

Are you or a loved one looking for a sober living program?  Give us a call!

How Suboxone Can Help You Quit Abusing Opioids

Medically Reviewed by: Charley Allen

Table of Contents

Sad businessman sitting at his workplace and leaning head on hands on desk.

How Suboxone Can Help You Quit Abusing Opioids

Opioids are a class of drugs that interacts with the brain’s opioid receptors. When people take them, they decrease sensations of pain and increase feelings of euphoria. Legal opioids, in the form of prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone and morphine, can be used to treat severe and chronic pain. 

However, opioids are highly addictive — and not just because of the feeling of euphoria, or “high,” that they cause. Taking an opioid releases an enormous amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that makes people feel rewarded and is the most important chemical in the brain for reinforcing behavior. 

Thus, whether someone is taking a legally prescribed opiate or an illegal one such as heroin, opioid dependence is likely to occur.

How Suboxone Can Help You Quit Abusing Opioids

There is currently an opioid epidemic in the United States. When people use this term, they are referring to the high rate of overdose deaths in the country due to opioid abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 192 drug overdose deaths every day. 

This number is high, but the rate of opioid overdose deaths seems to be increasing every year by an average of 10%. The vast majority of these are caused by synthetic opioids — mainly prescription drugs.

While “street drugs” such as heroin, which can be injected, snorted, sniffed, or smoked, are widely known to be addictive, many people falsely consider all prescription drugs to be safe. Many users are surprised when they become addicted to a prescription opioid. 

As the body builds a tolerance, addicts can be driven to use more frequently, at high quantities, or to seek out more potent substances. Those who make major changes in their lives in order to have access to drugs are exhibiting one of the tell-tale signs of drug abuse.

Other side effects of opioid addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include:

  • extreme happiness
  • drowsiness
  • nausea
  • confusion
  • constipation
  • sedation
  • problems breathing
  • unconsciousness
 

Beyond these immediate physical and psychological effects, often the clearest sign of opioid addiction is a change in behavior. People who are addicted to opioids will often entirely restructure their lives to guarantee access to their drug of choice. Serious addicts face problems with money, employment, friends, family, and health.

Withdrawing from Opioids and Detox Options

Withdrawal occurs when the body reacts to not having a substance that it has become accustomed to. In the case of opioid withdrawal, addicts can face a very intense and protracted battle.

Early opioid withdrawal symptoms include:

  • muscle aches
  • restlessness
  • anxiety
  • lacrimation (eyes tearing up)
  • runny nose
  • excessive sweating
  • inability to sleep
  • yawning very often

Later symptoms, which can be more intense, begin after the first day or so. They include:

  • diarrhea
  • abdominal cramping
  • goose bumps on the skin
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dilated pupils and possibly blurry vision
  • rapid heartbeat
  • high blood pressure

Withdrawing From Opioids

It is highly recommended that anyone quitting opioids enroll in an addiction treatment center so that they can detox under medical supervision. Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is available at many detox centers and can be a profoundly helpful method for achieving long term sobriety.

 MAT involves combining medications that aid with the withdrawal process with behavioral therapy and counseling. This comprehensive addiction treatment has been demonstrated to improve recovery outcomes.

One medication often used to treat the effects of opioid withdrawal is suboxone. Suboxone is a combination of two different substances, buprenorphine and naloxone. Together, they mitigate the intensity of opioid withdrawal. Substance abuse becomes very difficult on suboxone, the medication blocks the effects of opioids in the brain.

Treating Opioid Addiction

Using suboxone along with behavioral therapy as part of a MAT program can be hugely beneficial for recovering addicts. Medical advice states that suboxone can be prescribed for years as long as the recovering addict is also pursuing behavioral therapy. 

This is because suboxone and other medications, by reducing the immediate suffering often associated with quitting opioids, can make recovering addicts more receptive to the tools they need for fighting addiction. 

Misconceptions about medications like suboxone spread the myth that using suboxone is merely substituting one drug for another. In fact, suboxone does not get people high. It simply reduces the withdrawal symptoms of quitting opioids and allows recovering addicts’ brains to heal.

If you are interest in pursuing MAT as part of a recovery plan for either yourself or a loved one, it is a good idea to get in touch with a residential treatment program. The best approach is usually to begin in detox. 

Afterwards, taking some addition time to learn skills and focus on sobriety by living in a rehab or a sober living home can also be beneficial. Recovering from an opioid addiction may be a long and difficult process, but by methodically taking one step at a time, long term sobriety can be achieved.

Recover from Opioid Addiction

Design for Recovery is a luxury sober living in Los Angeles that provides evidence-based addiction treatment to individuals struggling with opioid addiction. Suboxone is a medication-assisted treatment that can be effective in helping individuals quit abusing opioids. Suboxone contains buprenorphine and naloxone and works by reducing cravings for opioids and blocking their effects. At Design for Recovery, our team of trained professionals works closely with residents to develop personalized treatment plans that may include medication-assisted treatment with suboxone, therapy, and life skills training. Our luxury sober living environment provides residents with a safe and supportive community where they can focus on their recovery journey while enjoying comfortable and upscale living accommodations. Our goal is to support our residents in achieving long-term sobriety and rebuilding their lives free from the grip of addiction.

Share this :

DAVID BEASLEY

DAVID BEASLEY

David moved to California from his hometown in North Carolina after multiple failed attempts to get sober. While living in an all-male sober living, David started to excel as a leader and mentor. These skills and tools ended up being the catalyst for his recovery and ultimately the foundation he has today. David has a passion for helping young men and sharing his experience. After working in the treatment industry he noticed a serious need for ethical sober living facilities. This prior work experience brought about David’s idea and drive to open Design For Recovery. He’s ambitious to promote growth and change within each individual client that enters the house. David has a strong presence in the house and continues to be part of mentoring young men on a daily basis.

Author

Edited by: David Beasley

David Beasley - Design for Recovery

RADT
David Beasley is a certified RADT (Registered Alcohol/Drug Technician). David, moved to California from North Carolina after many failed attempts to get sober.

Medically Reviewed by: Charley Allen
IMG-1545

LMFT
Charley earned his Masters of Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).He teaches mindfulness to both adults and children in group setting such as schools, corporate workplaces, and medical treatment facilities.

We Can Help

Design for Recovery - Locations Pages Contact Form

Read More

Addiction & Recovery

Sober Living in Los Angeles - Design for Recovery

About Us

Design for Recovery empowers men struggling with addiction by providing 24/7 support, mentorship, and teaches them how to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Chat with us on Facebook
relapse prevention

Are you or a loved one struggling with addiction? We can help!

Our advisors are waiting for your call: 424-327-4614

Reach out to us today.

Design For Recovery is committed to helping you or your loved one live a fulfilling life free from alcohol and drug addiction. Below you can find out what to expect when you contact us for help.

Call us at (424) 327-4614 or fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you soon.

Send us a message below and we will reach out to you.
Design for Recovery Contact - Popup