Suboxone has been researched and found to be a treatment for opiate abuse. Doctors recommend the use of Suboxone to people who are addicted to heroin. Suboxone treatment has been found to be the miracle drug that helps them reverse back the effects of opiate addiction. Some, however, end up abusing the drug by taking it in the wrong way to get instant relief from the withdrawal symptoms that they may be experiencing from opiate dependence.
The misuse of Suboxone can be fatal if not handled medically. According to the National Pain Report, many people abuse Suboxone with the excuse that it is safer and legal to use. The number of suboxone abuse is higher among young people especially teenagers. Even though it may be a medication prescribed by your doctor, administering it the wrong way has cost the lives of young people in our society. Below is a discussion regarding how this drug is misused, the signs of abuse and treatment to help Suboxone abusers.
 

 What makes suboxone a treatment drug?

This substance is made of buprenorphine and naloxone, both components known to be antagonists of opiates. It helps a person who is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms overcome them by administering small doses of Suboxone to their bodies. The two substances are combined to form Suboxone because on their own, and they are too strong for anyone. As a medication, your doctor instructs you to consume the drug and let it dissolve in your tongue so that you can receive both elements as half opioid antagonist.
 

How then is Suboxone abused?

In as much as you are taking Suboxone as a treatment for opiates, excessive doses to get rid of the pain makes it turn cruel on you. The problem comes in when you decide to inject Suboxone in the form of a solution into your veins instead of letting the Suboxone strips dissolve as recommended in your tongue. This method makes you have two opioid agonists instead. It blocks the drug from getting into your brain because naloxone attaches with opioid receptors.
Many young people who try to recover from heroin use this drug to help with the cravings. Even though it has saved some addicts get back on track, an overdose has left others dead. The number of opiate addicts outweighs that of doctors. Research shows that in 2013, there were less than 16,000 doctors who were allowed to prescribe Suboxone treatment in America.
Such numbers make some people look for other alternatives to purchase the drug such as getting dealers from the streets to acquire it illegally. They may not know the right amounts to take the pill and inject it as they used to do with heroin. Lack of understanding the risks involved in abusing the drug is what makes people do anything to get it so that they can fight their opioid addiction.
 

What are the signs that one is abusing Suboxone?

Misusing Suboxone causes both physical effects that directly affect your body and psychological effects which target your mind. People experience slightly different side effects depending on the dosage taken and if they combined this drug with other substances such as anti-depressants. The first signs that kick in include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches and Migraines
• Fever and excessive sweating
• Insomnia and blurred vision
• Muscle aches
• Dizziness and fainting.

There is also a risk of suffering respiratory depression which can make one stop breathing. Dissolving the drug and injecting it into your veins may cause vascular inflammation as well as infections in situations when you are sharing a needle with your buddy. The abuse may also lead to suboxone addiction which makes you dependent on the drug.
 

Is there a treatment for suboxone abuse?

Detox
If you have been abusing suboxone, it is time you go off the drug and start detoxifying with the help of Suboxone clinic. The withdrawal symptoms of suboxone are detoxed with proper guidance so that you are not at higher risks. Avoid detoxing on your own because you may suffer a relapse which is not easy to overcome due to the history of opioid addiction. Allow professionals to help you taper off the substance until your body starts getting used to withdrawal.
Medication
The National Drug Control Policy advocate for medicines such as Vivitrol to reverse the symptoms of Suboxone abuse. Taking this medicine should make you feel better within the first week of use.
Counseling therapy
Enrolling in Suboxone rehab gives you the chance to receive proper care after you are through with detoxification. This is the ultimate way to treat Suboxone abuse when you were using it as a treatment for opiate addiction. Fighting both drugs can be a challenge, but with the right therapy, you should live to tell your story.
Therapy addresses the psychological factors that led you to drug abuse. For instance, it could have been caused by life stress and unhealthy social networks. Therapy teaches you to live in a neighborhood without being influenced to take such drugs. They also show you how to replace cravings for the drugs with healthy substances.
Support groups
Rehabilitating from the drug is easier when you have a peer support group to walk with you every step of the way. The 12- step program is a famous support program that has helped suboxone abusers recover entirely from the drug. Here, you receive mentorship from professional counselors who motivate you through incentives to help you maintain staying clean. Sharing experiences with people in your shoes encourage you to fight and keep you focused on your goal.
 

Final thoughts

People should understand that suboxone does not cure opioid addiction; instead, it only minimizes the symptoms when you withdraw from opiates. It should, therefore, not be abused as people try to achieve euphoric feelings from the drug. Get the right prescription from your doctor and follow it to the letter to prevent you from suffering a double tragedy.
In case you are experiencing suboxone withdrawal symptoms, seek medical help to help you detoxify with the help of medication. Join others on the same journey and learn how to adjust back to your community without the fear of a relapse.
 
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