Very often I am asked by prospective patients: “Does Suboxone actually work?”
What do we mean by “Success”?
The answer can be complicated. Success in addiction medicine doesn’t look like success in, say, treating a broken bone. It’s multidimensional When I assess whether Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is working, I am looking at several things: Is the patient staying in treatment? Are they using fewer illicit opioids? Are they at a much lower risk of overdose? Is their quality of live improving? When measured across all of those dimensions, the data is remarkably encouraging.
– Patients on Suboxone are nearly twice as likely to stay in treatment compared to those receiving a placebo (1.82 times more likely to remain in treatment).
-There is a 76% reduced overdose risk in the first three months.
-There is an 80% decrease in illicit opioid use.
-There is a 50% reduction in overdose death rates.
* key sources include research published in peer-reviewed journals, as well as data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
How does it compare to other options?
Benefits of Using Suboxone for Treatment
Why Suboxone is a Preferred Choice for Many Patients
I often get asked: “Why not just go cold turkey?” or “Is methadone a better option?”. These are fair questions. Here’s my clinical take:
Abstinence based programs – those without any medications – historically have success rates below 20%. I don’t say this to disparage them. For certain patients they are transformative; but for opioid use disorder (OUD) specifically, the neurobiological nature of the disease makes unmedicated abstinence extremely difficult to maintain.
Methadone is an option and can be highly effective. However, methadone for OUD has to be dispensed through specialized clinics, usually requiring daily early morning visits. Suboxone, by contrast, can be prescribed in an office setting and taken at home. Also patients on methadone can, and often do, take other opioids to get the “high” they crave. Suboxone greatly alleviates those cravings and by way of its action, greatly inhibits the euphoria associate with other opioids.
What Suboxone cannot do alone.
Suboxone is a powerful tool. It is not a complete solution by itself.
Outcomes are meaningfully better when medication is paired with counseling and behavioral support. Patients with stable housing consistently show better results. Mental health comorbidity needs to be addressed as well. Also social support – family, community, peers in recovery – remains irreplaceable.
What Suboxone does is give the brain and body a fighting chance. It suppresses cravings and withdrawal, keeps patients engaged in the process, and dramatically reduces the risk of overdose while everything else is being worked on. That is not a small thing. For many patients, it is the thing that buys them time to rebuild their lives.
The bottom line.
Is Suboxone a perfect treatment? No. Every patient is different and some will respond better to other medications or different approaches. There can be challenges around initiation, particularly with the new powerful synthetic drugs being produced illegally including fentanyl.
But is Suboxone one of the most effective, evidence based, lifesaving tools we have for OUD? Absolutely, unequivocally yes. The data supports it. My clinical experience supports it. And, most powerfully of all, the patients who have reclaimed their lives while on it supports it
Dr. Richard Kellett, board certified in addiction medicine and anesthesiology with specialty training in pain management, provides confidential and compassionate care for individuals seeking help with opioid addiction in North Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, and Walterboro, SC. His supportive, non-judgmental approach helps patients begin treatment safely and with dignity.
To learn more about Suboxone treatment or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kellett, complete the online contact form or call (843)343-4445 today.
Leave a Reply