Is Suboxone Detoxification the Same as Any Other Opiate Detox Process?

The opiate detox stage can be a difficult time for someone recovering from opiate addiction. While Suboxone is designed to treat opiate addiction, it’s nonetheless an opiate-based drug, so the effects of Suboxone detoxification do resemble those of any other form of opiate detox.

Some people may need to enter Suboxone detoxification to break drug-abusing patterns. Others may require detoxification in order to complete a Suboxone treatment program. In effect, the reason a person enters Suboxone detoxification ultimately determines his or her course of treatment.

Call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) if you have any questions regarding detox program options.

Suboxone vs. Addictive Opiates: What’s the Difference

Suboxone Detoxification

Professional detox can help you end your Suboxone dependency, and live a healthier life.

Most all opiate drugs produce pain-relieving effects through their ability to stimulate the production of endorphin chemicals and slow down chemical activities in the brain. Different types of opiate drugs produce these same effects in different ways.

Suboxone contains two ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, buprenorphine belongs to the opiate class of drugs, while naloxone acts as an antagonist agent, meaning it counteracts the effects of opiates. This means a person will go into full-blown withdrawal if he or she tries to inject or snort Suboxone.

Suboxone comes with a low risk for abuse and addiction compared to other addictive opiates like heroin and oxycodone; however, using it in excess or combining it with other addictive drugs greatly increases Suboxone’s addiction potential.

Call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) for more information on Suboxone detoxification programs.

Long-Term Effects of Suboxone Treatment

Suboxone detoxification becomes necessary in cases where the brain has become dependent on Suboxone’s effects to produce needed endorphin materials. The degree of dependency ultimately determines how difficult Suboxone detoxification will be.

According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, during the early stages of Suboxone treatment, the drug gradually weans the brain off addictive opiates. After so many months (or years) of Suboxone treatment, the brain comes to rely on Suboxone’s effects to function normally. When a person abuses Suboxone, the rate at which dependence grows increases, and so does the risk for addiction.

How Does Rehab for Suboxone Work?

The Purpose of Suboxone Detoxification

The purpose of opiate detox from heroin or oxycodone works to break the brain’s physical dependence on the drug’s effects. The purpose of Suboxone detoxification accomplishes this same end, but also must ensure a person can manage daily life in the absence of the drug’s effects.

For someone coming off months or years of Suboxone treatment, the detoxification stage acts as a transition point where he or she must learn to manage daily life pressures without the treatment support that Suboxone provides. For someone coming off months or years of Suboxone abuse, the detoxification stage is typically followed up by ongoing residential or outpatient treatment.

When all is said and done, the Suboxone detoxification stage is a critical step in recovery regardless of whether a person is completing Suboxone treatment or coming off a period of Suboxone abuse. For these reasons, it’s important to ensure you get the level of treatment needed to make it through this stage in the recovery process.

Please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) if you need help finding a program that meets your needs. One of addiction specialists will be happy to answer your questions.


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