Is Suboxone sober? Why does long-term Suboxone treatment have such a bad reputation?
What is Suboxone?
- Improved patient survival
- Increased retention in treatment
- Decreased illicit opioid use and other criminal activities among people with substance use disorders
- Increased patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
- Improved birth outcomes among pregnant women with substance use disorders
Research shows that MAT is a far more successful treatment of opioid use disorder than alternatives, resulting in less likelihood of overdoses. (You can read more about the effectiveness of MAT in our detailed guide to Telemedicine for Addiction Treatment).
Common misconceptions about MAT
1. Myth: A drug is a drug is a drug
“Suboxone, or other forms of buprenorphine/naloxone, can reduce the likelihood that you’ll relapse and die. ”
2. Myth: Suboxone makes you high
3. Myth: Suboxone is trading one addiction for another
“There’s a big difference between addiction and dependence.”
“Harm reduction and Suboxone save lives. Focus on what works for you and how it is saving your life.”
4. Myth: Suboxone is mood-altering, so you can’t take it and be sober
“Just outside the doors of any 12-step meeting, you’re likely to find some folks vaping and chugging Monster energy drinks. All that nicotine, caffeine, and sugar is mood-altering.”
Tips to reduce the stigma surrounding MAT
- Education: When you hear people spread misinformation about MAT, correct them. If it’s easier, you can even send them a link to our blog.
- Rely on science, not on programs of recovery: A study evaluating the effectiveness of MAT is more reliable than the opinions of someone in a support group.
- Remember that SAMHSA, NIDA, and WHO endorse MAT: Each of these is a globally recognized organization that specializes in mental health and substance use disorders. And all of them endorse MAT as a preferred method of treatment for opioid use disorder—not a 12-step program.
- Support unconditionally: Someone is in recovery if they say they are. It isn’t anyone else’s business to validate or undermine the strength or validity of anybody else’s recovery. If you hear these types of comments, you might find it helpful to remind people that we can only look after our own recovery.
Resources to support a loved one with addiction
There are a lot of resources out there for families and partners of those suffering from substance use disorders. It can be hard to differentiate between them, so we’ve categorized them into helpful sections:
Education & Information:
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse has provided helpful, easy-to-read drug facts. There is also a sister site specifically about alcohol and alcohol use disorder: NIAAA.
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also has a website with a library of free resources and publications, including pamphlets for families where addiction is present, information on family therapy, and what is involved in substance use disorder treatment.
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For parents and teachers: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry resource center and NIHA Parents and Educators Resources
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For physicians and clinicians: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on substance use disorders, American Academy of Family Physicians on opioid use disorder, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine
Interventions:
The most common interventions used by practitioners are ARISE and the Johnson model.
Online support groups:
Facebook has a host of recovery support groups for families, including Voices to End Addiction & Inspire Recovery, FamilyRx, as well as online versions of mutual-aid meetings.
Helpful organizations:
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Recovery Community Organization (RCO): Faces & Voices of Recovery—they also have a list of RCOs, the Association of Recovery Community Organizations.
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For parents with children struggling with addiction: Family Resource Center and Partnership to End Addiction.
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For information on mental illness: National Alliance on Mental Illness
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Recovery housing: the National Alliance of Recovery Residences
In-person support groups and information:
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For children and teens: Alateen
Finding treatment:
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NIAAA treatment locator for alcohol use disorder
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SAMHSA treatment program locator for opioid use disorder
Mutual-aid support for the person suffering from substance use disorder:
If your loved one doesn’t go to treatment or wants to supplement their therapy with a peer-based support group, they can go to any number of mutual-aid groups, including:
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Recovery Dharma (a splinter group from Refuge Recovery)
There are also religious and culturally specific groups that individuals can attend, including:
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Wellbriety Movement (Indigenous spiritual traditions)
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Celebrate Recovery (Christian)
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Millati Islami (Muslim)
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Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others (Jewish)