Suboxone Addiction Treatment & Rehab Center near Santa Rosa, CA

Learn about Suboxone addiction

Suboxone is a medication designed to treat opioid use disorder. Consisting of buprenorphine, a medication that acts on opioid receptors in the brain but does not produce a high, and naloxone, a medication that blocks the action of opioids in the brain, Suboxone is intended to be a safe medication used for treating people struggling with opioid addiction.

Because it bonds to opioid receptors in the brain but does not cause a high, Suboxone can help to reduce individuals’ cravings for opioid drugs and minimize the withdrawal symptoms that may encourage them to return to their drug of choice. In addition, Suboxone can cause intense, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when it is ingested for the purposes of getting high, but it causes no such symptoms when it is ingested orally in accordance with a physician’s directions. As such, Suboxone is able to help individuals overcome opioid use disorder while also presenting a reduced risk of itself being abused.

Despite these built-in safeguards, individuals still are finding ways to misuse Suboxone in pursuit of a high. In these instances, it is important to remember that Suboxone is still an opioid medication and can cause immense damage if it is abused.

Suboxone addiction statistics

According to IMS Health, Suboxone saw nearly $322 million in sales in the last three months of 2014. Unfortunately, the drug was also involved in more than 30,000 emergency room visits in 2010, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). Estimates suggest that roughly 800,000 people have been treated with Suboxone.

Causes and risk factors for Suboxone addiction

Experts in the field of opioid addiction and treatment have identified a number of causes and risk factors for Suboxone abuse. These include:

Genetic: Researchers argue that much of one’s risk of Suboxone abuse is linked to genetic factors. Even risk factors that may seem to emerge from an individual’s environment, such as associating with individuals who abuse substances, can be linked to genetics when one considers that one’s temperament and personality, which partially determine one’s social relationships, are genetically influenced. For example, personality traits such as impulsivity and novelty-seeking are influenced by one’s genetic makeup, and these personality traits can also encourage people to find others who are similar.

Risk Factors:

• Ease of access to Suboxone, such as if one has a prescription for the drug
• Personal history of substance abuse
• Family history of substance abuse
• Being impulsive or having a high desire for novelty
• Associating with others who abuse substances

Signs and symptoms of Suboxone addiction

When a person is abusing Suboxone, he or she will like experience a number of common symptoms which may include some or all of the following:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Underperforming at work as a result of Suboxone use
• Avoiding important responsibilities or obligations in favor of using Suboxone
• Using Suboxone in situations where doing so is dangerous (e.g., while driving)
• Taking more Suboxone than a person intends or more than is prescribed
• Being unable to cut down on Suboxone use
• Continuing to use Suboxone despite being aware that the drug is causing significant problems in the person’s life
• Spending an inordinate amount of time acquiring Suboxone, using it, or recovering from its use

Physical symptoms:

• Constipation
• Withdrawal, during which a person experiences severe negative symptoms if he or she does not use Suboxone for a period of time
• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Dry mouth or nose
• Tolerance, or needing more Suboxone to achieve desired effects

Cognitive symptoms:

• Experiencing cravings for Suboxone
• Poor attention
• Poor memory
• Loss of concentration

Psychosocial symptoms:

• Depressed mood
• Experiencing social strain or interpersonal problems as a result of Suboxone abuse
• Agitation or frustration

Effects of Suboxone addiction

Suboxone is intended to treat opioid abuse, but when a person is abusing the medication, he or she may suffer a number of severe negative effects. Some of these effects may include:

• Poor job performance
• Demotion or job loss
• Long-term unemployment
• Extreme financial distress
• Relationship strain
• Social isolation
• Separation or divorce
• Loss of child custody
• Onset or worsening of mental health symptoms
• Polysubstance use, addiction, or chemical dependency
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Loss of visual acuity
• Damage to one’s veins as a result of injections
• Increased risk of contracting diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C from sharing used needles
• Skin lesions, wounds, and abscesses from injecting into the skin
• Difficulties in sexual functioning
• Death from violence, accidental injury, or accidental or intentional overdose

Suboxone addiction and co-occurring disorders

Unfortunately, individuals who are diagnosed with Suboxone use disorder may also meet criteria for other mental health diagnoses. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders can include:

• Depressive disorders
• Other substance use disorders
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Antisocial personality disorder

Effects of Suboxone withdrawal and overdose

Effects of Suboxone withdrawal: When a person has been abusing Suboxone for a long period of time and then attempts to abstain from the drug, he or she will likely experience a number of extremely uncomfortable symptoms as a part of the withdrawal process. These symptoms may include:

• Depressed or dysphoric mood
• Runny eyes and nose
• Aching muscles
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Excessive yawning
• Insomnia
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps
• Excessive sweating

Effects of Suboxone overdose: Each person has a limit for his or her ability to metabolize or excrete Suboxone. When a person ingests enough Suboxone to exceed that limit, he or she will face an overdose, which is a potentially life-threatening circumstance that necessitates prompt medical attention. Although Suboxone includes naloxone, which is used to treat opioid overdoses, it is still possible to overdose on Suboxone. Signs and symptoms of Suboxone overdose can include:

• Pinpoint pupils
• Drowsiness
• Feelings of weakness or fatigue
• Slowing or cessation of breathing
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Unconsciousness
• Coma

Why seek treatment for Suboxone addiction at Azure Acres near Santa Rosa, CA

Opioid use disorders are serious problems that often require professionals’ help to overcome. For many people, one of the most helpful first steps is to escape life’s daily stressors and temptations and receive residential care at a dedicated Suboxone addiction treatment center.

At Azure Acres Treatment Center, located near Santa Rosa, California, we have decades of experience helping individuals overcome many different kinds of substance abuse, including Suboxone abuse. By coming to heal with us, individuals are able to complete detox and rehabilitation in a safe, drug-free atmosphere under the attentive care of our dedicated and compassionate medical and clinical teams. By living at our treatment center, individuals are able to focus entirely on their recovery and build skills to help them break the chains of addiction and live substance-free lives. Residential treatment allows individuals to be surrounded by like-minded people and cared for by experienced and highly-trained counselors and therapists, giving them the best possible chance of long-term healing. With the help of Azure Acres Treatment Center in Sonoma County, recovery is possible and freedom from Suboxone abuse can be within reach.