Download Suboxone: Help for Drug Dependence

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Dr. Bridget Early, although primarily a Family Medicine physician, is also board certified
in Addiction Medicine. At Namaste, we are able to offer medication to help drug- or
alcohol-dependent people detox (come off their drugs safely) and to support their
recovery.
Suboxone® (buprenorphine and naloxone) is a carefully controlled prescription-only
drug, and doctors who prescribe it are strictly limited by the DEA in the number of
patients they can supervise on this medication at any time. Suboxone® not only blocks
the craving for opiates, patients who have taken any opiates and then take Suboxone® do
not get “high” from the opiates. Suboxone® also acts as a pain-relieving medication, so
it may be substituted for the opiates that chronic pain sufferers have become reliant on.
Vivitrol® (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) is a once-a-month
injection that can also be used to support recovery from opiates or alcohol.
Oral naltrexone is a pill that is taken daily and helps decrease cravings for alcohol for
many people.
There are other medications we can offer to help with cravings, anxiety, and depression.
We know that medication is one tool to assist in recovery, but is not enough by itself. We
are committed to providing comprehensive patient-centered care. We strongly support
12-step program attendance (such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous,
Celebrate Recovery). We also provide two, weekly support groups for patients in our
program, and facilitate referral to therapists and counselors. If residential treatment is
needed to ‘jump start’ recovery, we can help arrange that.
For more information
http://www.aa.org Alcoholics Anonymous website, find meetings in your area
http://www.NA.org Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, find meetings in your area
http://www.ASAM.org American Society of Addiction Medicine, more on alternative
treatments and the science of addiction
Suboxone® and other medications:
Here to Help, a Suboxone®support line, at 1-866-973-4373. Another help line is at 1877-782-6966.
http://TurnToHelp.com/ A self-help website with videos, to introduce patients to
Suboxone® and the potential for opiate recovery. The site is run by the drug company
that makes Suboxone®.
http://www.suboxone.com/ The official website for Suboxone®, with links to patient
resources.
http://www.heretohelpprogram.com Another Suboxone® support site
http://www.vivitrol.com/ Information about Vivitrol®
http://www.naabt.org/ The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine
Treatment. Buprenorphine is the active ingredient in Subutex and Suboxone. This site
includes a support zone as well as a “find a physician” link.
http://suboxonetalkzone.com/ A forum/website about Suboxone®