75 - Suboxone - Our Opinions - The Pros and Cons

Suboxone has been a hot topic for us recently. Today, Tom and Ben take some time to educate you about Suboxone, so that you can make an educated decision for yourself or your loved one. Ben has personal experience being on Suboxone and it was one of the medically assisted treatment or MAT options. It’s also a drug that is marketed by the manufacturers. 

In this episode, we share some of the pros and cons of using this substance. We aren’t against MAT programs, but some of the information can be misleading. We do believe that abstinence based long-term sobriety has better outcomes. We talk about the importance of identifying the proper candidate, some of the marketing, whether it can get you high or not, and much more. 

Show Notes:

• [02:59] Ben has personal experience being on Suboxone long-term.  It's a medically assisted treatment MAT option.
• [03:19] One thing to be aware of is that there's a pharmaceutical company and marketing behind Suboxone.
• [04:40] We are here to educate you on the pros and cons of it.
• [05:08] Suboxone can help a lot of people get to that abstinence-based part of their recovery.
• [06:18] Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist mixed with an opioid antagonist. It blocks all other opiates. You have to be in full withdrawal before going on Suboxone.
• [08:12] Someone who is using for a long time would be candidate. They've made several attempts at sobriety, but their brain chemistry has changed. Tapering down and using Suboxone should help. 
• [10:43] Suboxone is marketed as a magic pill or a cure. It really just assists in the process. 
• [11:49] It definitely has an opioid effect for people who have a low tolerance. Used properly it can help change the lifestyle and help focus on treatment and therapy. 
• [14:12] Suboxone is used in a detox center as a taper. Without medical assistance, a heroin user can go through a lot of withdrawals.
• [15:02] After two weeks, you should be off the Suboxone completely and have nothing in your system. 
• [15:35] The problem arises when people start using Suboxone as a crutch or realize that it can get them high, then they are just trading one for the other.
• [15:47] People on Suboxone maintenance programs can be on it for multiple years. Coming off of the Suboxone will be just as bad or worse than coming off of the heroin.
• [16:29]  Ben was on Suboxone for more than a couple years.  Ultimately, the game plan should be to get off of everything, even if that plan takes a couple years.
• [18:20] Another thing to think about is what would you do if your insurance runs out or if the pharmacy runs out of Suboxone.
• [19:15] Ben will take someone through the 12 steps even if they are on Suboxone. You get the most sick when you drop from 1 mg to 0.
• [21:22] The tipping point where it's about to get uncomfortable is one of the hardest places for an addict to be when trying to maintain sobriety.
• [22:10] There's going to be an uncomfortable part of the process, but you have to go through it to get to the other side.
• [25:24] Are you going to reach your fullest potential when you are on Suboxone? No, the longer you are on it, it becomes the new normal.
• [27:13] Suboxone is a narcotic that wreaks havoc on the body. You won't be in as good shape having this in your system as you would be with it not in your system. 
• [28:18] People are even going into treatment to get off of Suboxone.
• [31:42] Addiction is a symptom of something that is going on. Let's figure out what's causing anxiety that makes you need to take the anti-anxiety medicine.
• [33:40] We need to figure out what's causing all of these uncomfortable feelings and address that.
• [34:52] We aren't anti Suboxone, but we do believe you need to take an individualistic approach.
• [35:22] Don't make the decision to use Suboxone alone. Reach out to someone who has the education to help you.
• [36:57] Your loved one has to buy into their own treatment plan.

Links and Resources:

• Real Recovery Talk on YouTube