Can Suboxone Help People Overcome Opioid Addiction?
In This Article
Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, has become a prominent drug in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD).
This article explores the latest statistics on Suboxone’s effectiveness in treating opioid addiction. We’ll also look at the rates of prescription versus illicit use, its impact on opioid overdose rates, and key facts about this medication.
Most Noteworthy Suboxone Statistics
- Suboxone has been shown to be approximately 1.8 times more effective than non-medicated recovery paths in helping people remain in treatment and reduce opioid use.
- Treatment with buprenorphine after an opioid overdose was found to decrease opioid overdose deaths by 38 percent.
- Suboxone generated $785 million in net revenue in 2019, highlighting its significant role in the pharmaceutical market for addiction treatment.
Suboxone as a Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Suboxone has demonstrated significant effectiveness in the treatment of opioid addiction, helping people reduce their opioid use and remain in treatment programs.
- Buprenorphine, a key component of Suboxone, was found to reduce the rate of opioid-positive drug tests by 14.2% among those in treatment.
- Patients taking buprenorphine as part of their treatment for OUD were 1.82 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to those not receiving medication.
- Research has shown that between 50-60% of individuals who use Suboxone during their recovery will relapse into heavy drug use, highlighting the importance of comprehensive treatment plans beyond medication alone.
- A study found that over a 5-year period, individuals with OUD showed a decrease in illicit opioid use from about 15 days per month to 5 days per month by the end of the follow-up when treated with buprenorphine or methadone.
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Rates of Prescription vs. Illicit Use
While direct statistics differentiating prescription from illicit Suboxone use are limited, various studies and data sources provide insights into usage patterns and potential misuse.
- Legitimate prescription use of Suboxone is often monitored by healthcare providers, with prescriptions tracked through systems like Medicare Part D data or state-level Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs.
- Illicit use of Suboxone may be inferred from studies that discuss misuse, such as individuals using Suboxone without a prescription, in greater amounts, or in ways not directed by a physician.
- Trends in buprenorphine treatment and misuse can be observed in studies that report on the characteristics of individuals misusing the medication, such as those with a history of OUD or those who misuse other substances.
- A study found that 92.7% of buprenorphine-involved overdose deaths also involved at least one other drug, highlighting the risks associated with polysubstance use.
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Impact of Suboxone on Opioid Overdose Rates
Suboxone and its active ingredient, buprenorphine, have been associated with significant reductions in opioid overdose rates.
- Buprenorphine is associated with overdose reductions of 50% or more when used in opioid agonist medications for OUD treatment.
- Opioid users who took buprenorphine had a 40% reduction in their risk for an overdose.
- Despite the effectiveness of buprenorphine in reducing opioid overdose deaths, access to this medication remains limited, with barriers at various levels, including healthcare, legal, and societal sectors.
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) director estimated that if methadone and buprenorphine were made universally available nationwide, opioid overdoses would fall by half, if not more.
Suboxone Facts
Here are some quick facts about suboxone:
- Suboxone is a medication that combines buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. This unique combination is designed to treat opioid addiction.
- Buprenorphine mimics the effects of opioids to a lesser degree, satisfying cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing a significant high. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids, deterring misuse by causing withdrawal symptoms if the medication is injected.
- Suboxone received FDA approval for the treatment of opioid addiction in October 2002. This marks a significant advancement in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder.
- Suboxone has a lower risk of dependency compared to methadone, another medication used in MAT. It also has a “ceiling effect,” meaning that beyond a certain dose, its effects do not increase, reducing the risk of overdose.
- Suboxone is administered sublingually. You can take it either as a film or tablet that dissolves under the tongue, ensuring quick absorption and effectiveness.
- Buprenorphine, a key component of Suboxone, is listed among the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines. This is due to its importance in treating opioid use disorder.
- Initially classified as a Schedule V drug, buprenorphine was reclassified to Schedule III in 2002, reflecting its potential for abuse but also its accepted medical use.
- Despite its clinical benefits, Suboxone and MAT, in general, have faced stigma and controversy, with some viewing it as substituting one addiction for another.
- Suboxone is used not only for opioid addiction treatment but also as part of a comprehensive approach that includes counseling and behavioral therapies.
- Suboxone effectively manages withdrawal symptoms from opioids, making the detoxification process more manageable for patients.
This article’s statistics clearly show that Suboxone works to treat opioid addiction. But whether someone gets the prescription legally or illegally makes a big difference. We need better ways to track Suboxone use and make sure this life-saving treatment reaches those who need it.
The opioid epidemic isn’t going away, so we have to make it easier and cheaper to get Suboxone and other similar treatments. We need to break down the barriers that exist, reduce the shame people feel, and give those struggling with addiction the wholehearted support they deserve for a lasting recovery.
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- “How effective are medications to treat opioid use disorder?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2021.
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- “Long-term Effects of Buprenorphine & Methadone on Opioid Use.” Recovery Research Institute.
- “The Risk of Misuse and Diversion of Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Appears to Be Low in Medicare Part D.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
- Han et al. “Trends in and Characteristics of Buprenorphine Misuse Among Adults in the US.” JAMA Netw Open, 2021.
- “Methadone and buprenorphine reduce risk of death after opioid overdose.” National Institutes of Health, 2018.
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- “Compared to methadone, Suboxone is associated with lower mortality but also less time in treatment.” Recovery Research Institute.
- Sivils et al. “Suboxone: History, controversy, and open questions.” Front Psychiatry, 2022.
- “What Is Suboxone? 4 Facts Every Patient Should Know.” Recovery Care.
- Facher L. “How the U.S. is sabotaging its best tools to prevent deaths in the opioid epidemic.” STAT.
