Is Suboxone Right for Me?

Suboxone therapy has come a long way since it was first introduced in the late 1990’s.

What used to be primarily a “medication-only” solution has evolved into a complete program of recovery known as MAT, or “Medication-Assisted Treatment”.

MAT uses Suboxone as a tool to stabilize the patient from withdrawals and cravings, allowing therapy to begin with the purpose of identifying and addressing issues and traumas that create and drive addictive behavior.

Suboxone is a powerful tool, but is only one piece of proper opioid addiction treatment. Group therapy is also encouraged to everyone beginning a MAT program.

Recovery Care is owned, managed and operated by people in active recovery. That means that the people you see at the desk and talk with on the phone are very likely in recovery themselves. It is likely because of the owner’s and staff’s having a personal experience with addiction that prompt people to mention how good their treatment is at Recovery Care.

We’re Not Bad People Trying to Be Good – We’re Sick People Trying to Get Well

Addiction is a disease, just like diabetes. And like diabetics take insulin to stabilize their glucose levels (moves glucose into your cells), addiction uses Suboxone to eliminate withdrawals and cravings, which happen to be the number 1 and 2 motivators for using opioids. Withdrawals can be very painful and pain is a very strong motivator. Many people will do whatever it takes to rid themselves of pain, if if they know it’s temporary.

Suboxone eliminates the adverse effects that occur when someone stops taking opioids (narcotics like hydrocodone, oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet, Opana, heroin, fentanyl, etc). Therapy begins, helping the patient gain a better understanding of addictive behaviors and motivators. 12-step programs can be of great benefit to someone on a Suboxone maintenance program for many reasons:

  1. Like-minded people work through life’s issues as a team
  2. Sponsorship means having a guide in recovery
  3. Most people learn their problems are not as unique as they once believed (everyone has problems, and many are similar to one another)

How Long Should I Stay on Suboxone?

There is no golden rule for how long someone should stay on Suboxone. It is truly each individual’s choice. Recovery Care co-owner Drew Bourke shares his experience, strength and hope regarding how long people should stay on Suboxone:

“Since 2017 I’ve witnessed almost 2000 people start a recovery program, 99% of which used Suboxone maintenance. Here’s what I’ve come to believe:

  • Many people start Suboxone with skewed beliefs – They believe that drugs are their only problem, and that once the drugs are gone all their problems are solved.
  • Many people believe a week or two of Suboxone therapy will end their drug abuse.
  • Very few people take advantage of the free therapy we provide.
  • Even fewer people join a group recovery program like AA, NA, CA, Al-anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, SMART Recovery, etc.
  • More than half of people relapse, many repeatedly.

Let me break down each item above with what I’ve witnessed over and over again.

  • Drugs are My Only Problem – Rarely is this true. Drugs are the symptom of the underlying problems. People usually take drugs to avoid having to feel and deal with their real problems. They self-medicate to reduce stress and anxiety. Therapy and group recovery are the keys to resolving problems, not Suboxone.
  • A Week or Two of Suboxone and I’m Cured – I wish this was true. If it were, we probably wouldn’t exist. My experience tells me that most people should stay on Suboxone for approximately 1/2 the time they abused drugs. If you abused heroin for four years, I’d recommend two years of Suboxone.
  • I Don’t Need Therapy – I believe everyone needs therapy, not just those who are addicted! Therapy is where the healing begins. It’s where you find out what’s driving your addictive behaviors. And, therapy can be enlightening, uncovering things you may never have thought were connected to your addiction.
  • I Don’t Need Group Recovery – You may not need group recovery, but you should do it anyway. Group recovery has provided me with more solutions and healing than I ever thought possible. I also met lots of like-minded people who are now my best friends. I no longer feel isolated, no do I feel my problems are unique. When I do have a problem, I have an entire group of people willing to help me work them out. Group recovery is the most powerful recovery tool there is, and you don’t want to miss out on the many gifts you’ll receive by fully-engaging it.
  • I’m Not Going to Relapse – Most people relapse. It’s sad, but it’s a part of recovery. People don’t relapse because their recovery program stopped working, they relapse because they stopped working their recovery program. I hate seeing this over and over again, but so many people think they’re cured after a week or even a month of Suboxone treatment. Science now shows it takes almost a full year for our bodies to chemically-reset after long periods of drug use. Give your recovery program time to work even when things get good. Life can look really great after a few weeks of Suboxone, but that doesn’t mean you should stop – It just means you’re on the right track.”

Does Suboxone Work with Fentanyl?

Yes. However, it does require a slightly different set of rules for Suboxone induction. Suboxone is typically prescribed in smaller doses throughout the first day or two of treatment, helping reduce the possibilities of precipitated withdrawal.

“People don’t relapse because their recovery program stopped working, they relapse because they stopped working their recovery program.”

Does Suboxone Help with Meth?

Sadly, no. However, the FDA is currently testing new drugs that may soon help with reducing the withdrawals caused by meth usage.

Does TennCare Cover Suboxone Maintenance?

Yes. Recover Care accepts all three TennCare insurance providers: AmeriGroup, BlueCare and United Healthcare, as well as many private insurance plans. You can get $0 cost addiction treatment using telemedicine at Recovery Care with your TennCare insurance.

Can I Start a Suboxone Using Telemedicine?

Yes! Recovery Care caters to everyone in the State of Tennessee, providing Suboxone treatment programs using telemedicine to everyone, regardless of location. You or someone you know can start a Suboxone maintenance program immediately by registering online at any of Recovery Care’s websites: https://recoverycarecolumbia.com/appointments-suboxone-therapy-columbia/