Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) Opiate
Addiction Treatment - The Secret Key To Lasting
Addiction Recovery Success
Copyright 2005 Stephen Gilman, M.D.
You may not realize this but before buprenorphine
treatment with suboxone or subutex was available, it
was extremely difficult to treat opiate addiction
outside of a hospital based detox. This all changed in
2002 when buprenorphine became legally available
as suboxone and subutex formulations. Keep in mind
that buprenorphine is available as both forms -
suboxone and subutex.
But opiate addiction treatment with buprenorphine
does NOT always go smoothly. In fact I have
identified keys to success - or failure - with suboxone
- subutex treatment.
I'm often asked what the most common mistake is
that people make when they enter buprenorphine
suboxone treatment. (Unfortunately, their are plenty
of common buprenorphine suboxone mistakes made
by patients and treating physicians.
The most common one is related to the person's
mindset about the suboxone treatment itself. People
who are most successful with this process are those
who realize that the medication is NOT the most
important part of the treatment process. This
statement may seem strange, so let me further
explain.
Most people who come to me for treatment have
been dependent on their opiate (hydrocodone,
oxycontin, heroin, percocet, etc.) for an extended
period. This could be many months or years. Most of
them have never heard of buprenorphine. That
means that they have been in an intense opiate
addiction pattern of behaving for a long time. This
pattern has literally taken over their life - they spend
alot of their time thinking about getting the next dose
so they don't go through withdrawal. Other life
obligations - to varying extents - are placed
secondary. They will let nothing get in their way of
making sure they get their opiate.
Additionally, their is the learned, repetitive behavioral
pattern of actually reaching out for the opiate
addiction every few hours or so that has been
ingrained into their minds.
Once on the buprenorphine (suboxone or subutex
forms) their is no more need to reach out for
something to feel better. Their is no more need to be
psychologically "thought focused" on getting the next
"hit". This is great ofcourse, and the goal of the
medication. And the fact that the buprenorphine
treatment is so easy when done right further lulls
people into a false sense of the suboxone or subutex
itself doing all the work.
However, this is also where their can be problems.
Since you have been dealing with this addicted
pattern for so long, your brain is not going to simply
"forget" it once you are on a stable dose of
buprenorphine.
You may still have stressors in your life that may
trigger a craving - even a mild one - that can put you
at risk for snapping back into the addiction even if you
are on the medication.
This is the problem I see with many people who
simplistically look at being on the medication as the
sole way to recover from opiate addiction. But the
medication does NOTHING to help your "unlearn" the
addictive pattern and learn new, more empowering
life patterns that help you avoid relapse and truly be
in addiction recovery.
Simply put, those people who view opiate addiction
recovery as simply taking buprenorphine and doing
nothing else to enhance recovery are the most likely
to fail and begin to use again once the initial detox
with the medication is over.
The most successful in my practice are those people
who realize that the buprenorphine medication (as
suboxone or subutex) in combination with addiction
oriented psychotherapy is the best way to go.
Keep this in mind before you enter treatment and
make sure that whoever is prescribing the
buprenorphine is a DEA certified suboxone-
buprenorphine doctor and able to deliver high quality
psychotherapy or at least puts a high degree of
importance on it and gives you an appropriate
referral.
Stephen Gilman, M.D. Addiction Psychiatrist reveals
exactly how you can be successful with
buprenorphine (suboxone, subutex) treatment. To
receive your FREE, no-obligation 5 part mini-course
visit:
http://www.suboxone-treatment-newyork.com
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