How Suboxone Abuse Affects Families

Suboxone is a drug often prescribed to patients recovering from opiate addiction. Suboxone is itself an opiate, as it contains buprenorphine, an opioid similar to morphine, codeine and heroin. Because Suboxone produces less of a “high” than other opiates and contains naloxone, an opioid antagonist that ideally prevents users from abusing buprenorphine, Suboxone is supposed to be easier to stop taking. Unfortunately, Suboxone can cause dependence, and ending Suboxone use can result in withdrawal symptoms that are no better the symptoms it’s prescribed to treat. As a result, many patients end up substituting their initial addiction for a Suboxone addiction, requiring a second detox and further treatment.

Suboxone Side Effects

If you’ve been prescribed Suboxone or are taking Suboxone, you may encounter the following side effects:

• An allergic reaction involves such symptoms as difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the tongue or face or hives
• Slow breathing
• Dizziness or confusion
• Liver problems indicated by yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark colored urine, light colored stool, decreased appetite, nausea or lower stomach pain
• Headache
• Problems sleeping
• Constipation

Suboxone and Your Family

In many cases, Suboxone addiction results from the use of Suboxone to manage withdrawal symptoms from another drug. This can be tragic on for several reasons. Like any drug addiction, Suboxone addiction can have a profound effect on the user’s family in many ways, and a family dealing Suboxone addiction has most likely dealt with addiction before and often recently. To end up in the same struggle again can be difficult and painful for both user and family.

Stop the Cycle of Addiction for You and Your Family

Most addicts struggle with admitting they have a problem. It is understandably difficult to tell family and loved ones, who may admire and look up to you or whose approval and respect you value, that you are an addict. For those who have already admitted their struggles and come so close to recovery once, this can be especially hard. Suboxone addiction can be another loop in an emotional and psychological roller coaster for addicts and their families. It is important to remember that the family members who supported you before will be there for you again.

An important part of relapse prevention is post-rehab therapy. Often this therapy is most effective when it involves addicts and their families. In group therapy, everyone involved can learn what may have caused addiction and can learn strategies to prevent relapse in the future. Stopping the cycle of addiction is vital to assuring that repaired family relationships stay that way. Knowing that family support will be there will gives the recovering Suboxone user the strength to admit when they are struggling and when they need extra help to prevent falling back into the cycle of addiction.

Get Help for Suboxone Abuse

If you or someone in your family struggles with Suboxone abuse, we can help. Call our 24 hour, toll-free helpline today and find the treatment that’s best for you and your family. Addiction can harm families. Treatment can heal them. Call now and start recovering today.