Suboxone is not so much indicated for treatment of pain as it is for the treatment of addiction to opiate narcotics.  The problem of narcotic addiction has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.  As physicians have become more responsive to treating pain, the number of patients receiving narcotic pain medications has increased.  With this increase in narcotic prescriptions, the number of people addicted to pain medications has soared.  Individuals from all walks of life can be addicted to prescription pain medications to which the recently well publicized addiction troubles of Rush Limbaugh can attest.  Treatment for addiction can take several forms, including medications to alleviate cravings, psychological treatment to probe underlying dependency issues and depression, and group therapies such as narcotics anonymous.  This article will focus on the use of one particular medication for drug addiction, namely Suboxone.

The drug Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone in a single tablet. Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic derivative of thebaine which has partial agonist and partial antagonist properties at various opioid receptors. This means that it elicits a response that is not quite as potent as a full agonist. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that is placed in the Suboxone tablet to prevent intravenous injection of a dissolved tablet. A narcotic addict who tries to inject Suboxone would get relatively quick and powerful withdrawal symptoms and not the desired “high”.

Suboxone use in the United States for treatment of drug addiction requires a special waiver from the federal government. Suboxone can be used in the outpatient medical management of opiate drug addiction. The medication is placed under the tongue. When used as directed, the addict receives the benefit of the buprenorphine which helps to eliminate the effects of opiate withdrawal and minimize cravings while feeling little effect from the naloxone. Because of the waiver requirement for the ability to prescribe Suboxone, not every physician is able to prescribe this medication. The location of physicians who have the ability to use Suboxone for addiction treatment is on the Suboxone website.

If you are addicted to pain medications, it is important that you receive professional help in treating that addiction. Drug addiction is a serious medical illness that can require lifelong therapy and attention to the possibility of recurrence. Suboxone is just one component of treatment for drug addiction and should be combined with other proven methods.