Southland Recovery

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM):

"Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. . . Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death."

Opiates, opioids, narcotics, painkillers, and analgesics are interchangeable names for the same family of substances derived from the opium poppy. Opiates are commonly used to manage pain, but can also cause euphoria, sedation, nausea, constipation, dependence, and overdose. Common examples of opiates include: morphine, codeine, heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone (Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet/OxyContin), and methadone.

Medication assisted treatment (MAT) combined with behavioral therapy and individual or group counseling is a preferred method of treating opiate dependence.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a harm reduction method which involves substituting an opiate for a safer and less addictive alternative. MAT medications trick the brain into thinking it has had its usual dose of opiates while the mind and body slowly adjust to operating without their use. The new medication is then slowly tapered so that withdrawal symptoms are barely present when discontinued. Commonly used MAT medications include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.

Suboxone is a combination of two medications, buprenorphine and naloxone.

Buprenorphine works by knocking other opiates out of receptors in the brain, and then occupying them so no other opiates may enter. This prevents symptoms of withdrawal and reduces urges and cravings.

Naloxone is present to prevent buprenorphine from being injected.

The benefits of Suboxone treatment are numerous, but the most significant include: Instant relief from withdrawal, urges and cravings, reduced potential for overdose, reduced risk of acquiring or transmitting communicable diseases, improved life outcomes, increased functionality, privacy, affordability, and low risk of abuse.