Methadone vs. Buprenorphine: Similarities and Differences
When you’re considering treatment options for opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) will be one of the common programs you encounter. MAT is an effective option for many individuals, and there are two primary medications used in such programs — methadone and buprenorphine. Both medications are proven effective in treating opioid use disorder. We’ll break down the similarities […]
MAT Programs Now Accept Medicare Coverage
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines proven medications and counseling to help you start the path to recovery with comprehensive treatment services. Insurance coverage makes MAT programs affordable for many patients and now, Health Care Resource Centers accepts Medicare coverage for its Accredited Opioid Treatment Programs. In October 2019, the opioid bill H.R. 6, often referred to […]
Boston Inmates in Civil Suit over Denied MAT
Many prisoners in America’s criminal justice system find themselves behind bars for drug-related offenses while their body is actively dependent on opioids. For most of these inmates, it means they are at risk of developing painful and debilitating withdrawal symptoms exposing them to future relapse, overdose, and even death when not provided with treatment options […]
How to Get on a Methadone Program
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with methadone helps patients manage withdrawal symptoms and learn recovery skills. If you need help with opioid addiction recovery, a MAT clinic can support you. Discover the steps to take to start a methadone program below. Signs That You Could Benefit From Methadone Treatment Opioid addiction comes with distinct signs that can seem obvious […]
The Dangers of Snorting, Smoking or Injecting Suboxone® (Buprenorphine Insufflation)
The medication buprenorphine and its compound prescription medication Suboxone are highly effective and popularly used in programs based on medication-assisted treatment (MAT). People about to initiate MAT with these medications rightly have questions about addictive potential and whether it’s possible to abuse the medications. Understanding what happens when someone snorts, smokes or injects Suboxone will give you […]
How Long Does Buprenorphine Stay in Your System?
As someone taking buprenorphine or considering treatment, you may wonder how long it stays in your system. Every medication has a half-life, the length of time it circulates through the body. This half-life impacts how long you feel its effects and when it will show up on a drug screen. Learning how long buprenorphine stays […]
How Long After Methadone Can I Take Suboxone?
Contributor: Dr. Joseph Py, DO FASAM Patients in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are prescribed methadone, buprenorphine or buprenorphine with naloxone (Suboxone®, Zubsolv®, etc.), for opioid use disorder or, commonly, opioid addiction. These medications work due to their ability to eliminate withdrawal, decrease craving and normalize brain function. Similar to other treatments for medical disorders, a person […]
Suboxone® High: Everything You Should Know
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 2.1 million people had an opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2016. The majority of people with OUD had an addiction to prescription pain pills. Over half a million people had an addiction to heroin. Every day, more than 130 people die in the United States after […]
Methadone and Pregnancy: Opioid Addiction During Pregnancy
Recovery from opioid addiction presents a considerable challenge in any situation, but pregnancy creates complications that can often seem overwhelming. One of the ways addiction persists is by convincing you that you aren’t hurting anyone but yourself. With a baby on the way, however, you can’t afford to think this way. For the safety of […]
What Are the Benefits of Office-Based Opioid Treatment Programs?
When treating opioid addiction, there are several options for people to consider. There are inpatient and outpatient services available, but another alternative is called office-based opioid treatment, or OBOT, and it offers many advantages. This method provides medication-assisted treatment (or MAT) by using medicines like buprenorphine with or without naltrexone (Suboxone, Buprenex, Subutex, Butrans, Zubsolv) […]
