Suboxone Detox and Addiction Treatment

Are you struggling with Suboxone addiction after trying to withdraw from opioids? Do you need help managing your Suboxone addiction and withdrawing from the drug safely? Neworld Medical Detox is a leading Ontario Suboxone detox and addiction treatment centre located just outside of Toronto. We specialize in providing effective detox treatment to help individuals experiencing Suboxone addiction withdraw from the drug safely and comfortably. Contact Neworld today to find out more about our inpatient medical detox program to begin managing your addiction.

Article at a Glance

• Suboxone is a combination drug made from buprenorphine and naloxone. It is prescribed to treat opioid addiction as part of medication-assisted treatment.
• Medical professionals recommend Suboxone to reduce opioid cravings, reduce the risk of overdose, and manage pain for certain medical conditions.
• People who take Suboxone can become addicted to it in the same way as opioids. Suboxone addiction and withdrawal symptoms are similar to those for other opioids.
• Suboxone can be very dangerous in combination with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other opioids.
• Detoxing without medical assistance can cause severe physical pain and psychological distress and can potentially lead to relapse and overdose.
• Neworld Medical Detox near Toronto, Ontario helps patients safely come off Suboxone and refers them to an addiction centre to begin their sobriety journey.

Suboxone is a combination medication that medical professionals prescribe to treat opioid use disorder and addiction. It is the recommended first-line treatment for most individuals in Canada suffering from opioid addiction, and can help reduce the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal (1). Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, which prevent withdrawal symptoms and the adverse effects of further opioid use (2)(3). However, some people struggle to get off Suboxone once they begin using the medication, and become addicted.

Many people begin using Suboxone as a way of treating an opioid addiction. Buprenorphine, which Suboxone is made from, is a long-acting opioid drug that medical professionals use to help wean patients off short-acting opioids like heroin, fentanyl, or oxycodone (4). Because Suboxone is still an opioid-based medication, it is possible to become addicted to the drug. With chronic use, Suboxone can create a physical dependence, much like other opioids (5).

As with other opioids, stopping Suboxone suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can be both uncomfortable and dangerous when done at home and without medical supervision. At Neworld Medical Detox, our team of certified medical practitioners provide judgment-free, multidisciplinary inpatient Suboxone withdrawal treatment services in a home-like setting to make you as comfortable as possible during detox.

We understand that no client is the same, which is why our client-centered medical detox program is tailored to each individual’s needs and the severity of their Suboxone use disorder.

Once our team of nurses and care specialists have helped you detox from Suboxone, we refer you to our nearby sister centre, Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centre, where you can truly begin your recovery journey and achieve long-term success in overcoming Suboxone dependency. The same care staff works at both centres, ensuring continuity of care and that you are in safe hands you know and trust during your Suboxone addiction treatment.

Neworld Medical Detox provides medically supervised withdrawal management programs to help individuals overcome Suboxone detox safely and effectively. Our facility serves Toronto and surrounding areas. Our certified medical practitioners offer a tailored approach to medication-assisted detox. Once withdrawal symptoms are safely managed, we can refer you to an addiction treatment program within our care network that is personalized to your needs. We work together to empower our clients and set them on the path toward sustained recovery.

You can follow up your detox with a full-time inpatient treatment program under the supervision of the same care team who have come to understand your unique medical and emotional situation. Our practice follows a medical mental health model, meaning your mental well-being is our utmost priority.

Here’s what medically supervised Suboxone detox at Neworld looks like:

1. Suboxone detox at Neworld begins with an intake assessment, whereby a qualified medical professional asks about your opioid and Suboxone use history, medical history, and any co-occurring mental health disorders you may have. From here, our team creates a detailed, holistic Suboxone treatment plan to help you get off the drug safely.

2. Once Neworld has established a patient withdrawal plan, you begin detoxing from Suboxone. During medically supervised detox, our care team may prescribe non-opioid medications to lessen the severity of your withdrawal symptoms. Our nurse practitioners and recovery coordinator monitor you closely during withdrawal to manage any adverse reactions you may have. They also provide you with mental health support.

3. After undergoing supervised medical detox at Neworld, we refer you to our care experts at Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centre, just a 15-minute drive from Neworld. At Trafalgar, you continue the recovery journey you begin at Neworld through therapy and personalized counselling. Both therapy and counselling can help you prevent relapse and begin the journey to long-lasting recovery from Suboxone and opioid addiction.

Neworld’s medically supervised detox process is designed to help patients transition from actively using Suboxone to withdrawing from the medication so that they can begin their journey to sobriety. Our goal is to help you alleviate your withdrawal symptoms and cravings carefully and refer you to a holistic treatment centre to minimize your risk of Suboxone use relapse. Detoxification or withdrawal can take several days or several weeks, depending on the patient’s needs and history of Suboxone and opioid use.

The physical and mental effects of Suboxone dependency are powerful and can negatively affect your life. Once you have safely detoxed from Suboxone, addiction treatment is an important next step to equip you with the tools you need to stay sober and start living your life again. Without treating addiction and its root causes, the chance of relapse increases.

At Neworld, we understand how difficult it is to come off a drug like Suboxone after chronic use. We help individuals manage the acute withdrawal symptoms of Suboxone and opioid dependence. Our program provides patients with the tools they need to recover for the long term. Detox is the first step in addiction treatment and recovery. It sets the foundation for sobriety and for the individual to regain their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Taking Suboxone with other drugs can be very dangerous, especially those that depress the central nervous system like opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines (4). Suboxone use disorder can have serious health, social, and personal repercussions if left untreated. Excessive Suboxone use or mixing Suboxone with alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines can lead to overdose or death (5).

Suboxone has the potential to become addictive when improperly prescribed, taken at high doses, or taken over a longer period of time than recommended. Because Suboxone is used to treat opioid addiction, the dosage should decrease over time. Symptoms of Suboxone overdose include:

• Pinpoint pupils
• Sedation
• Respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Death

Sometimes, people struggling with Suboxone use disorder try to detox by quitting cold turkey, tapering off their Suboxone use at home, or using natural remedies like vitamins, supplements, and herbs to manage their symptoms. However, it is never recommended to withdraw from Suboxone without professional medical supervision—not only can it be uncomfortable or dangerous, but it can increase your risk of relapse and subsequent overdose. Keep in mind that there is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of natural remedies in treating withdrawal syndrome and helping patients withdraw from Suboxone. Neworld recommends seeking professional help to ensure your Suboxone detox is safe and successful.

Suboxone withdrawal can be difficult to manage. The severity of the Suboxone detox symptoms can vary from one person to another, depending on how much Suboxone the person is using, how long they have used Suboxone, and how abruptly they ended their Suboxone use (5). Withdrawal symptoms for Suboxone are less severe than but similar to withdrawal symptoms for general opioids. Symptoms of withdrawing from opioids include (6):

• Agitation
• Insomnia
• Muscle aches
• Abdominal cramping
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Because suboxone contains buprenorphine, an opioid drug, addiction to Suboxone can look similar to opioid addiction. Some warning signs of opioid addiction include (7):

• Craving the drug
• Wanting to quit but not being able to, despite repeated attempts
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you don’t take it
• Needing more opioids to achieve the same desired effect
• Losing interest in other activities
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Running out of medication early

Substance use disorders often co-occur with mental health disorders, including personality disorders, eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (8). If you are experiencing concurrent Suboxone use disorder and mental health disorder, Neworld is equipped to help you get the care you need to manage both. We provide on-site psychiatric assessments for new patients at our facility and mental health support throughout the detox process. Prolonged Suboxone use may exacerbate underlying co-occurring disorders. Once you have detoxed from Suboxone, we refer you to our sister addiction treatment centre, Trafalgar, where our shared interdisciplinary team helps you manage concurrent disorders through therapy and counselling.

Do you have a loved one struggling with Suboxone addiction? Encourage them to seek professional help at a medical detox centre like Neworld. Medically supervised detox is the best and safest way to withdraw from Suboxone. You can also:

1. Offer the person emotional support by listening to them, believing in them, and offering words of encouragement that help them recover from Suboxone use disorder.

2. Distract them from unpleasant Suboxone withdrawal symptoms by lending them books, movies, or games.

3. Be patient and understanding with your loved one. Offer them support throughout the entire Suboxone detox process and recovery journey.

The best and safest way to detox from Suboxone is to enroll in a medically supervised detox program like Neworld’s. Trying to quit any drug addiction cold turkey can be dangerous. It can increase the person’s risk of overdose and relapse. Our care team at Neworld helps you come off Suboxone safely and comfortably in our home-like setting in Halton Hills, Ontario.

Neworld Medical Detox’s inpatient program offers comprehensive Suboxone addiction treatment to help individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. Our experienced team of professionals provides personalized care through assessments, prescriptions, and tailored therapies designed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and provide a strong foundation for long-term recovery. Detox at Neworld happens at our facility near Toronto, where you receive 24/7 medical supervision and support. Our inpatient facility is designed to feel like home, so that your recovery journey is as comfortable as possible.

Achieving sobriety from Suboxone and opioid use is not easy, but with the right support, it can happen. Neworld Medical Detox’s experienced team of nurse practitioners, recovery experts, and mental health professionals can help those dealing with Suboxone addiction detox safely and start their path to recovery. The evidence-based therapies, treatments, and support at our Ontario care centre maximize individual recovery success while minimizing discomfort during the detox process. Contact us today for more information on our comprehensive treatment program for Suboxone use disorder.

Information on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not replace personalized medical advice. You should never make any decisions about your health without consulting a healthcare professional, especially when related to substance use or mental health. To speak to a qualified member of our team for personalized advice, you can contact us here.

Sources:

1. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction – Best Practices, Opioid Use Disorder

2. Government of Canada

3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

4. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Buprenorphine

5. Suboxone Prescribing Information

6. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction — Prescription Opioids

7. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Opioid Addiction

8. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Concurrent Disorders