Congratulations on taking the first step towards overcoming opioid addiction and taking control of your life. Not everyone can summon the courage and seek professional help when they develop opioid dependency.
While there are many opioid recovery programs out there, suboxone treatment has proven to be the most effective.
Suboxone treatment is a form of Medication-Assisted-Treatment (MAT) specifically designed to help individuals addicted to opioids.
In MAT, patients are required to take medicine such as Suboxone to control opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings while receiving plenty of psychological support.
With fewer withdrawal symptoms, the patient can set and focus on attaining their recovery goal. Combining Suboxone treatment with behavioral therapy yields a relatively high success rate than the other treatment options.
Now that you have decided to seek Suboxone treatment for your addiction, you may have many questions on what the treatment entails and what to expect.
Fortunately, we are here to answer those questions and make your work easier. Read on to find out what to expect when you visit a Suboxone clinic.
1. Be Prepared for a Question-Answer Session
When you visit a Suboxone clinic for the first time, your doctor will ask you a few questions to establish if you genuinely need the treatment.
He/she will rely on your responses to understand your needs and concerns better. This will be the beginning of your journey to successful recovery. Some of the questions that you will be asked include:
- When was the last time you used opioids?
- How frequently do you use opioids?
- What opioids are you most addicted to?
- Is the opioid considered long or short-acting?
- How long have you been struggling with opioid dependence?
- Do you have a reliable support system of family and friends to keep you engaged with Suboxone treatment?
To answer whether your opiate of choice is short-acting or long-acting, you need to understand the difference between the two.
Typically, long-acting opioid addiction is related to fentanyl or methadone since it entails a relatively slower and highly controlled tapering-off period before you are allowed to start Suboxone treatment.
Short-acting opioid addiction mostly relates to heroin and doesn’t require a tapering period. In fact, patients who are addicted to such opioids can begin Suboxone treatment immediately.
2. A Custom Suboxone Treatment Schedule and Timeline
One of the frequently asked questions when it comes to Suboxone treatment is how long it takes for one to recover.
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this question. Typically, the length of your treatment program depends on your needs, your ability to adhere to doctor recommendations, and your doctor/counselor.
Some patients tend to progress much quicker and only need a few weeks to recover fully, while others require extensive treatment and numerous counseling sessions to recover. The entire process can take several months or even years.
3. Long-term Suboxone Use
Once you have successfully progressed from the introductory phase, your doctor will prescribe a long-term treatment plan designed to help you recover from opioid addiction.
There is no one universal treatment plan because treatments vary from clinic to clinic as well as from doctor to doctor.
Generally, after the third day of your Suboxone treatment induction, provided your treatment has stabilized, your doctor will reassess how you are responding to the treatment plan and recommend Suboxone dosage changes if need be.
After being on Suboxone for at least five days, your doctor expects you to start feeling “normal.” If you experience any side effects, don’t be afraid to inform your physician.
4. Constant Communication with Your Counselor
As you work through your treatment plan, you will be assigned a behavioral therapist who will help you psychologically. You will be expected to inform him/her of any triggers or cravings you experience.
Keep in mind that successful recovery will be based on how you adhere to treatment and counseling. Working with a psychologist will allow you to set your recovery goals as you become more confident and stronger.
The communication will be open and non-judgmental. In fact, your doctor and counselor will provide you with significant support to help you address emotional pain and any other behaviors that contributed to your opioid addiction.
The communication is just as essential to your recovery process as is your Suboxone dosage.
5. Professional Counseling
Lastly, you should expect professional counseling as you near the end of your treatment. Although this is usually considered one of the final aspects of recovery, it is critical in ensuring your path to full recovery is successful.
During counseling, you will be provided with essential tools to stop you from relapsing and minimize some of your cravings.
For instance, you will be taught a wide range of coping skills helpful in managing stress and allowing you to better understand what drove you to opioid addiction in the first place.
These strategies are a critical component of your recovery journey because they reset your psychological thinking and prepare you for a new life ahead.
Some patients often prefer to go through medically-assisted detox to eliminate toxic substances from their bodies. While this is a great thing to do, you still need counseling to get rid of all negative thoughts from your mind.
How to Begin Suboxone Treatment
To begin your Suboxone treatment, you need to find the nearest Suboxone clinic and talk to an experienced Suboxone doctor.
At CCIWA, our primary objective is to provide a full range of education and drug addiction treatment services for youths, families, and adults impacted by addiction.
Our services are readily available since we do not use a waiting list. We can get you right into our Suboxone treatment or education programs as soon as you are ready.
Contact us today to find a Suboxone clinic or doctor near you!
