Suboxone Addiction Statistics: Causes and Solutions

In the backdrop of increased Suboxone addiction statistics, there is mounting pressure on the medical fraternity to craft clear policies regarding the drug. It comes as a surprise when doctors start treating patients for Suboxone addiction, a drug which is primarily used for the treatment of opiate dependence and addiction. In reality this is a narcotic drug with derivatives from opioids, and it has gained popularity among addicts after being rendered a take-home prescription in 2002. Since then there has been an upsurge in people seeking rehabilitation from its addiction.

How Suboxone Works

Suboxone contains two ingredients; Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Buprenorphine, the active component, targets opiate receptors in the brain to act as a substitute for more potent and detrimental drugs such as heroin OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. This makes withdrawal less adverse and diminishes cravings. The chemical Buprenorphine has a half-life of about 24 hours; by binding with receptors, it prevents the effects of other drugs that may be taken during this time and tricks the brain into believing that the target 'high' has been achieved. Suboxone addiction statistics reveal that 75% of Buprenorphine dependants inject high doses of the drug.

To counteract this practice, a second substance is added. Naloxone inhibits the effects of opioids and when used alone it causes withdrawal symptoms in opioid addicts. It is sometimes used in case of heroin overdose due to its inhibiting property. The combination of these two drugs creates an effective opiate addiction treatment, but with potential for abuse.

Suboxone Abuse

The manufacturers of Suboxone initially suggested that the drug had no potential for misuse and thus it was widely prescribed in an unsupervised manner by most addiction physicians. In 2004, research revealed that recreational abusers crush and snort the drug to achieve a high while some sold their prescriptions for up to $25 per tablet. Consequently, lots of doctors stopped administering Suboxone and this forced genuine rehab patients to relapse.

By 2006, Suboxone addiction statistics showed that an estimated 4 400 emergency room visits were Buprenorphine related, while heroin addiction and abuse of opiate painkillers affected more than 30 million people in the US by 2010. With increased Suboxone use and abuse, the manufacturers' profit margin rose to $440 million in 2009 and current surveys estimate that about 170 000 people in the US use Suboxone per day. The drug has been revised to formulas that are faster to dissolve, taste better, conveniently and securely repackaged, and suggested to have less risk of abuse. However, diversion and abuse of Suboxone is largely attributed to lack of warning information for patients and lax monitoring by doctors.

How to Spot Addiction

Suboxone is fundamentally a requirement for persons trying to quit opiate addictions. As such it can be difficult isolating proper use according to doctor's prescription, from abuse. Sedation and indistinct speech are typically the most obvious signs of Suboxone abuse. According to FDA's Suboxone addiction statistics, the drug's side effects include sweating, mood swings, nausea, constipation, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, impaired thinking, and withdrawal from normal daily activities.

Combination with other drugs such as benzodiazepines, alcohol, antidepressants, antihistamines, sedatives, muscle relaxants, anxiety medicine, and other opiate medications may result in dire consequences like severe sedation, unconsciousness, and even death. Other than these effects, overdose causes slow breathing, weakness, confusion, clammy skin, seizures, unconsciousness, and coma. Withdrawal from Suboxone is characterized by anxiety, unusual agitation, sleeping disorders, tearing, excessive sweating, and runny nose. These early signs give way to diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, mood swings, dilated pupils, and confusion. Complications from withdrawal may cause severe problems or become fatal.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A comprehensive evaluation of medical history accompanied by urine and blood tests are used to verify Suboxone addiction. Immediate treatment of withdrawal symptoms forms a good first line of attack as opposed to waiting for blood-work. Later-stage withdrawal usually requires immediate and effective medical attention; the patient may experience severe pain that drives them to relapse. Treating Suboxone withdrawal involves reintroduction of the drug to alleviate adverse effects, followed by a gradual decrease of dose until the point when the body is no longer dependent on the drug.

Suboxone therapy for opiate addiction continues to be an useful and promising technique. The current Suboxone addiction statistics are manageable through thorough monitoring of patients under rehabilitation, administering the lowest amounts of effective Suboxone, and use of holistic or alternative treatments for opiate addiction. Remedying cause is always better than treating effect.