How to Find a Suboxone Clinic Near You

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs are one of the many different types of treatment available for addiction. When people are addicted to opioids, such as heroin, oxycodone, morphine, etc., they may be prescribed Suboxone to help minimize their withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug cravings. Suboxone, when used in combination with a MAT program, is a highly effective form of treatment for opioid addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction to opioids, you may want to consider finding a Suboxone clinic near you.

Every medical provider who prescribes buprenorphine medications such as Suboxone are required to complete training and registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Furthermore, these providers are only allowed to treat a small number of patients at once, so patients receiving Suboxone will do so in a small patient to provider ratio. However, this also means that space may be limited, so finding a local Suboxone clinic may prove challenging. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Suboxone and How Does it Work?

Suboxone is a brand name prescription drug containing buprenorphine and naloxone that is used to treat opioid dependence. The medication comes in the form of an oral film that is placed under the tongue and dissolves in the mouth. Suboxone is a schedule III controlled substance that, when abused, may lead to dependence. As a result, the medication should only be used in a controlled medical setting.

Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist, so it has similar effects as opioid drugs, but blocks the euphoric effects of opioids. The drug binds to opioid receptors in the brain, thereby reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Naloxone, on the other hand, is combined with buprenorphine solely to prevent Suboxone abuse. As an opioid antagonist, Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids and may cause immediate withdrawal symptoms if combined with opioids.

Treatment with Suboxone typically occurs in two different steps: induction and maintenance. The induction phase refers to the initiation of treatment. People should only begin taking Suboxone once the effects of opioids have worn off and their withdrawal symptoms have set in. Opioid withdrawal typically lasts for less than two weeks, but some people may remain on the medication for several months or years after the induction phase depending on their individual needs. This is referred to as the maintenance phase where Suboxone is used to keep cravings at bay while people participate in a comprehensive treatment program.[1]

Benefits of Getting Treatment at a Suboxone Clinic Near You

If you or a loved one keep relapsing time and time again due to opioid addiction, it might be time to consider Suboxone treatment. When used in combination with behavioral therapy and support groups, this medication can help people live free from opioid addiction. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), MAT programs, including those that use Suboxone, are proven clinically effective by providing a more comprehensive and individualized treatment approach.[2]

When patients begin their Suboxone treatment at our clinic in Memphis, they know that the ultimate goal is to eventually taper off of this medication and have the ability to live a self-directed and healthy life. However, the combined use of Suboxone and counseling is a treatment approach that is shown to:

• Improve patient survival rates after treatment
• Increase treatment retention rates
• Decrease rates of illicit opioid use after rehab
• Decrease rates of criminal activity after treatment
• Improve patient chances of obtaining and maintaining employment
• Improve birth outcomes in women who are pregnant and addicted to opioids
• Reduce the risk of blood-borne illness transmission (hepatitis C, HIV, etc.)

If these benefits sound like personal goals that you want to achieve by getting help, you should speak with a medical provider near you about Suboxone treatment.

Where to Find a Suboxone Doctor

Once you have decided that medication-assisted treatment is something you would like to try, the next step is locating a Suboxone doctor or clinic near you. Reaching out for help isn’t always easy, so many people prefer locating a treatment provider online. SAMHSA offers a Buprenorphine Practitioner Locator that allows people to search for authorized providers by state. Alternatively, if you’re looking for general opioid treatment programs (OTPs) near you, SAMHSA also has an OTP Directory to help people locate opioid treatment programs in their state.

Another way to locate a local Suboxone clinic is to speak with your primary care physician. Even if your primary care physician doesn’t specialize in addictions or substance abuse, most will be able to refer you to a local provider who does. Moreover, some primary care physicians are properly certified and able to prescribe Suboxone, so your doctor may be able to prescribe it for you themself. However, it is important to remember that Suboxone should always be used in combination with a comprehensive substance abuse program, as the medication alone is not a cure for addiction.

Questions to Ask When Looking for a Suboxone Doctor

Every treatment provider is different, so you may want to look into several options before making a decision. Before starting to make phone calls, it’s important to know what to ask and what to look for in a Suboxone doctor near you. Here are a few questions that you may want to ask:

• Is the program covered by insurance and, if not, how much does it cost?
• Does the program offer medical detox services?
• How often are you required to come to the Suboxone clinic?
• What types of therapies and treatments are offered at the program?
• What are the doctors’ and clinicians’ qualifications?
• How long do your patients stay on Suboxone?
• What additional recovery resources do you provide?
• When is the next appointment/when can I be admitted?

Furthermore, you will want to consider your personal treatment needs. For example, people who suffer from mental illness and addiction may require a dual diagnosis or mental health program. Not all treatment centers provide dual diagnosis care, so if this is a personal requirement of yours, you will want to make sure to find a Suboxone provider who also treats mental health.

Suboxone may be prescribed in both inpatient or outpatient settings. Residential, or inpatient rehabs, typically offer medical detox and a full continuum of care for people with severe opioid addictions. Outpatient programs, on the other hand, are for people who don’t require residential services or cannot attend inpatient rehab due to work, family, or time constraints. Regardless of which level of care you choose, your doctor should monitor your progress throughout treatment and adjust your dose accordingly.

Find a Suboxone Clinic Near You Today

If you or a loved one are interested in finding a Suboxone clinic near you, our dedicated treatment providers are standing by to help. There is no pill that cures opioid addiction entirely, but Suboxone is an extremely effective treatment asset. That’s why our Suboxone program in Memphis combines the medication with intensive therapy and aftercare services to help individuals get started on the right path towards recovery. Whether this is your first time seeking help or you’re returning from a relapse, don’t wait any longer. Contact us today to find a local Suboxone doctor.

References:

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325827#how-it-works
2. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment