Questions and answers
Buprenorphine (Suboxone) is the safer option, by a wide margin. Methadone has serious side effects and has to be taken one dose at a time under direct supervision, so you'd be visiting a methadone clinic every single day. People can also get high on methadone, which keeps the addiction alive instead of treating it. Buprenorphine is much safer. You can't get high on it and you can't overdose on it, so doctors can prescribe up to a month's supply at once. You take your daily dose at home and spend your time on what actually matters, like work and family.
Buprenorphine (also known as Suboxone, Subutex®, Zubsolv, or Sublocade®) is technically in the opiate family, but only barely. You can't get high on it and you don't build a tolerance. It works by fooling your body into thinking you have stronger opiates in your system. Think of it like a diet soda. The artificial sweetener tricks your taste buds into expecting sugar even though there's none there. At the right dose, you won't have withdrawal or cravings, and you'll feel like yourself again. It also blocks other opioids, so if you slip up and use pain pills or heroin while on it, nothing happens. That breaks the relapse cycle. The long-term goal is for symptoms and behaviors to fade so you can rebuild your life. When you're ready, you'll taper down slowly until you're at a very low dose or off the medication completely.
Most people stay in treatment for at least six months to a year. That's roughly how long it takes for the brain wiring affected by opioid use to start straightening out. Some people need longer. Everyone is different, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Our doctors listen to your goals and build a plan around them.
As often as you need, with no extra monthly cost beyond a drug test. Most patients are seen three times during the first month and then once a month after that, assuming things are going well. If you're having a rough stretch, call the office and we'll get you in right away at no extra charge.
We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. If you have insurance, we'll submit the visit and exam charges to your plan. Your plan determines whether you owe a copay or any portion of the bill, depending on your deductible. If you're uninsured, we offer some of the lowest cash prices in the state, and we'll work with you to make care affordable.
No. Even though buprenorphine is technically an opiate, it works by fooling the body into thinking the harder stuff (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone) is on board, so the body stops looking for those drugs. Picture it as a band-aid covering the underlying addiction. If you stopped taking buprenorphine cold turkey, you'd feel mild withdrawal because the underlying opiate addiction would re-emerge, not because buprenorphine itself created a new dependency. With proper tapering at the end of treatment, you'll come off all opioids including buprenorphine.
No. Buprenorphine has to be specifically tested for, and it's not part of the standard panel an employer uses.
Buprenorphine treatment is almost always viewed positively by the legal system. It shows you're taking responsibility and asking for help. Courts know that people on buprenorphine are far less likely to use drugs. We'll provide free documentation for your lawyer, judge, or probation officer. Even if your legal problems are unrelated to drug use, you won't be penalized for being in treatment. It is not a crime to have an opiate addiction as long as you're getting treatment.
Counseling isn't required, but we strongly recommend it. You'll do counseling regularly with your doctor during clinic visits. If you want to make permanent, significant life changes, a more intensive counseling program is usually part of the path. We have in-house therapists at several of our clinics, and we work with community therapists too. We're happy to make introductions.
Tell your doctor in advance about any upcoming surgeries or procedures. Buprenorphine itself is a strong painkiller. If you need something stronger, we'll stop your medication a few days before surgery and coordinate directly with your surgeon or dentist.
For many people, addiction is a lifelong condition. When you're ready to stop buprenorphine, several options keep you safe from relapse. Naltrexone is a daily pill that blocks opiates and protects you from slip-ups. It's safe, non-narcotic, and non-addictive, but it doesn't stop cravings, so most people stabilize on buprenorphine first. Vivitrol is the same medication as a once-a-month injection, which is great if you'd rather not remember a daily pill. After the shot, relapse isn't physically possible for 30 days, which reassures family too. A third option is the slow-release buprenorphine injection, a monthly shot that gives you the benefits of a low-dose without the daily pill routine. Insurance covers it, and we're one of the few clinics in the area certified to administer it. Some people stay clean using coping skills, supportive friends and family, counselors, 12-step groups like NA or AA, or religious communities. And if you ever start to struggle again after staying clean, you're always welcome back. We've got your back, no matter what.
We legally cannot release any of your information without your written consent or a court order. Everything we discuss in treatment is confidential.