Is Methadone Necessary for Suboxone Addiction Treatment?
If you have been abusing Suboxone that was meant to treat your opioid addiction, it could be a very beneficial choice to begin methadone maintenance treatment for your further care. Call 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) now to find a rehab program where you can receive the best options for your recovery.
Suboxone Abuse, Addiction, and Rehab
Many individuals who begin abusing Suboxone are those who do not have an opioid dependency, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This can include individuals who have been treated for their opioid abuse and have gone through detox or those who are casual abusers of opioids. However, the former scenario is more likely because Suboxone usually isn’t very easy to obtain, and those who do wind up abusing it are more often those taking it as a treatment method.
In addition, some individuals who are dependent on opioids still might attempt to abuse Suboxone and to try and circumvent the precipitation of withdrawal the naloxone in the drug can create if it is crushed and snorted or injected.
In most instances, those who wind up abusing Suboxone are usually those who need treatment for opioid addiction, have been struggling with this issue for some time, and need a stricter treatment program than Suboxone can provide. Therefore, in many cases, it is beneficial for an individual to begin methadone maintenance for Suboxone addiction treatment.
Benefits of MMT for Suboxone Addiction Treatment
According to the National Institute of Justice, MMT is an effective rehab program where patients receive their methadone dose daily and can have both their withdrawal symptoms and cravings managed while they go through treatment and attempt to recover their lives. Most MMT programs are outpatient centers, but there are also inpatient facilities that utilize this treatment option as well. Some of the benefits of using MMT for Suboxone addiction rehab are:
- Methadone is a stronger drug than buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone. Those who have a stronger dependence on opioids and who are more likely to relapse because of it will often experience better results if they take methadone. Because the optimal dose of methadone is more effective than the optimal dose of buprenorphine, those with severe addictions and dependencies often need this option.
- People who have been abusing Suboxone often have trouble sticking to their prescription and avoiding the abuse of their maintenance medication. However, those who seek MMT can only receive their medication under the surveillance of a professional medical team in a controlled clinic environment. Unlike Suboxone, which a person can receive in a doctor’s office and administer themselves, methadone maintenance programs leave little to no room for temptation.
- Methadone maintenance centers provide well-rounded treatment programs that give patients everything they need to succeed. For example, many of these clinics offer additional treatment methods like behavioral therapy (individualized and group), HIV prevention and testing, and medical services as well as vouchers for any treatments not available at the facility itself (NIJ). Because Suboxone users only receive the drug in a doctor’s office, they will often have to set up any additional, necessary treatments on their own.
Is Methadone Necessary for Suboxone Addiction Treatment?
This depends highly on the individual, their specific needs for treatment, the severity of their dependency and addiction, and their past experiences with substance abuse and recovery. Methadone maintenance does have a number of benefits that should be considered for Suboxone addiction treatment, but truly, a person cannot know if a treatment option is right for their needs until they consider these needs and, ultimately, consult with a doctor (National Institute on Drug Abuse).
- Have you been abusing opioids for a long time?
- Have you tried multiple treatment programs in the past and been disappointed with the results?
- Are you heavily dependent on opioid drugs?
- Do you experience severe withdrawal symptoms whenever you attempt to stop using these drugs?
- Do you believe a strict, daily treatment regimen would be beneficial to you?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is possible that MMT could be a beneficial option for your needs. But remember, no one treatment program is right for every individual.
Do You Need Help Finding the Best Rehab Program for Your Needs?
Call 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) today, and let us match you with the most effective facility for your current situation. Do not suffer alone; seek help for Suboxone and opioid addiction today.