To the OP- most of this you know. But it can be helpful information that you did not know about suboxone. To others who are not as familiar with drug addiction.

One of my dear child hood friends became an addict when she went thru a bad divorce. She was well off. And started using pain killers. Then one day. When she ran out. She started snorting heroin. Her divorce money went up her nose and she lost almost everything before she learned how to save her life. Suboxone - in her opinion, as well as mine- saved her life.


There's a difference between drug dependence and drug addiction. It's a term created pharmaceutical companies to lie to the world. However there are many instances in which I agree it's for the better.

Drug dependence- as opposed to addiction - is where the patient uses it as a treatment and is dependent on it. This can be anything and everything. Medication for anxiety, depression, pain. The dependence for the drug can be psychological, physical of both. Some- might even be placebo. For those that have physical dependence. They can experience no to very severe withdrawal. This is when weaning down is necessary should the paying want to stop.

There is a fine line between dependence and addiction. And it is crossed when it is abused. This can be done by either the street user, a patient, or doctor who prescribes too much/too often either thru negligence or directly knowingly being unethical.

Methadone and suboxone are drugs used to treat drug addiction. Yes. It's patients are physically dependent on it. And are usually put on one of two plans. The most common- is weaning down to become ultimately drug free. The second is often for those who have had decades of drug addiction and being drug free can cause death or severe life threatening withdrawal. Those will be on a maintenance program for life.

Methadone is not w very good candidate for drug treatment bc it provides euphoria. It is the lesser of two evils and not by very much. It's clinics are often meeting grounds for people to find new drug connections. The relapse rates for those on methadone is far higher. You can use opiates on top of methadone- and they will intensify the euphoria.

Suboxone is a much different story. Most often it's offered in a doctor office setting. This does not mean it's better. However suboxone prevents opiates from binding to the receptors. Meaning if the abuser uses on top of suboxone. They will either feel nothing or they have to use a much greater amount of opiates to even achieve any mild sensation. And to be on suboxone the patient must be in withdrawal for at least 36 hours before the drug can work. There is a certain amount of "painful work" that must be done to switch from one drug to suboxone. Make it relatively less easy for the user to jump back and forth. There is also no feelings of euphoria reported for those that use the amount prescribed. There is a term called ceiling effect. Euphoria occurs when suboxone is used owes this mg amount. However most doctors do not find the need to ever prescribe that much. Bc if they do. They usually have the patient go to methadone and wean down on methadone before going to suboxone.

Imagine the daily life of a user. It often involves finding the money to pay for the habit. What kind of bad behaviors become developed when their habit exceeds their living expenses and income and they must generate revenue thru stealing, lying, borrowing, bartering, drug dealing, prostituting? Assuming they have a job or have not gotten fired. What kind of environments are drug addicts that use on w daily basis - hanging out in and networks that they mingle in? Now imagine they're life revolves around this daily for 5-30 years.

Methadone and more so- suboxone- takes them out of their environment. Eliminates the bad behavior. Methadone treatment is cheaper than suboxone. But both of them are generally far cheaper than drug addictions. They no longer have to interact with drug dealers. Find ways to come up with money. Find or be able to hold their job. Not worry about running out of supply. And stopping the action that they look forward to and associate with in regards to euphoria.

This action I speak of is more related to snorting, smoking or using a needle.

I saw a person that I had no desire to be around bc she always looked sleepy and seemingly lazy- to being an alert, productive and spunky person. She's been off of suboxone for two years now. She was on it for one year- during which her doctor kept lower her dosage until it was down to the decimal dosage- before having her stop completely.

OP- best of luck to you and your gf. Hope some of this information helps.