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Suboxone/subutex is increasing as the drug of choice for many opiate abusers
Jul 11, 2008 10:07PM
- 3 comments
Diversion
Buprenorphine is a synthetic opiate and produces the euphoric effects sought by opiate abusers; 0.3 mg of sub is equal to 10 mg of morphine
therefore, it is susceptible to abuse in both of the forms approved for treating opiate addiction. Subutex, the form that does not contain naloxone, is more vulnerable to abuse because it can be crushed and injected or snorted without causing withdrawal symptoms in the abuser. The FDA recommends that physicians limit the use of Subutex to supervised administration sessions; however, physicians are not required to do so, creating opportunities for Subutex diversion. Subutex has been prescribed legally for years in some foreign countries, where its diversion for illicit use is common. There are lucrative black markets for diverted Subutex in Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In France, India, and Scotland, where buprenorphine is far more common in opiate addiction therapy than methadone, many individuals are addicted to Subutex. Suboxone is not available in these countries.
Suboxone also can be diverted and abused; however, it is more likely to be abused by individuals who are addicted to low doses of opiates since it can precipitate withdrawal symptoms in high doses. The naloxone in Suboxone guards against abuse by causing withdrawal symptoms in abusers who crush and either inject or snort the drug; however, law enforcement and pharmacist reporting indicates that Suboxone is being abused successfully when snorted.
Using buprenorphine and heroin in combination does not produce increased effects, but if buprenorphine and methadone are abused together, the effects of both drugs are enhanced. Consequently, diverted buprenorphine may be attractive to patients currently using methadone for opiate addiction therapy.
Despite controls designed to make buprenorphine diversion-proof, there have been reports of buprenorphine diversion throughout the United States, primarily in the Northeast region.
Chittenden County, Vermont. A pharmacist in this area reports that Suboxone is being diverted and sold for $25 per 8-milligram tablet. Abusers are grinding the tablets and snorting them.
Washington County, Maine. The Washington County Sheriff's Office reports that buprenorphine is being diverted in that area and sold for $50 per tablet. The size of the tablet is unknown, and it is unclear whether Subutex or Suboxone tablets are being diverted in this case.
Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that diverted Subutex and Suboxone are being illegally distributed on the street. Specific locations have not been identified.
Buprenorphine dependencyBuprenorphine dependency is commonly seen amongst patients who use the semi-synthetic narcotic Suboxone. Suboxone is a combination of Buprenorphine and Narcan, and it is a sublingual formulation, which means it is taken under the tongue. Taken this way, the Buprenorphine is absorbed through the mucus membrane, while the Narcan is not. This drug cannot be injected, because the Narcan component causes instant opiate withdrawal.
Treating Buprenorphine dependency - Detox MethodsBuprenorphine detox can be difficult because there are both mental and physical aspects of Buprenorphine dependency. Opiates travel rapidly through the bloodstream to the brain, where they stimulate opiate receptors, triggering intense feelings of pleasure and reward. This quick high is followed a state of relaxation and contentment that lasts for several hours. Concurrently, opiates act directly on the respiratory center in the brainstem, causing a decrease in the breathing rate of the user. When Buprenorphine and/or other opiate-derivative drugs are used incorrectly, this reduction in breathing can be dangerous and even fatal.
Traditional methods that Buprenorphine dependency-talk therapy along with medicinal treatment to lessen the pain of withdrawal-often have low success rates (less than 10% after the first year) due to the drug's powerful, physically addictive properties.
Buprenorphine is a synthetic opiate and produces the euphoric effects sought by opiate abusers; 0.3 mg of sub is equal to 10 mg of morphine
therefore, it is susceptible to abuse in both of the forms approved for treating opiate addiction. Subutex, the form that does not contain naloxone, is more vulnerable to abuse because it can be crushed and injected or snorted without causing withdrawal symptoms in the abuser. The FDA recommends that physicians limit the use of Subutex to supervised administration sessions; however, physicians are not required to do so, creating opportunities for Subutex diversion. Subutex has been prescribed legally for years in some foreign countries, where its diversion for illicit use is common. There are lucrative black markets for diverted Subutex in Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In France, India, and Scotland, where buprenorphine is far more common in opiate addiction therapy than methadone, many individuals are addicted to Subutex. Suboxone is not available in these countries.
Suboxone also can be diverted and abused; however, it is more likely to be abused by individuals who are addicted to low doses of opiates since it can precipitate withdrawal symptoms in high doses. The naloxone in Suboxone guards against abuse by causing withdrawal symptoms in abusers who crush and either inject or snort the drug; however, law enforcement and pharmacist reporting indicates that Suboxone is being abused successfully when snorted.
Using buprenorphine and heroin in combination does not produce increased effects, but if buprenorphine and methadone are abused together, the effects of both drugs are enhanced. Consequently, diverted buprenorphine may be attractive to patients currently using methadone for opiate addiction therapy.
Despite controls designed to make buprenorphine diversion-proof, there have been reports of buprenorphine diversion throughout the United States, primarily in the Northeast region.
Chittenden County, Vermont. A pharmacist in this area reports that Suboxone is being diverted and sold for $25 per 8-milligram tablet. Abusers are grinding the tablets and snorting them.
Washington County, Maine. The Washington County Sheriff's Office reports that buprenorphine is being diverted in that area and sold for $50 per tablet. The size of the tablet is unknown, and it is unclear whether Subutex or Suboxone tablets are being diverted in this case.
Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that diverted Subutex and Suboxone are being illegally distributed on the street. Specific locations have not been identified.
Buprenorphine dependencyBuprenorphine dependency is commonly seen amongst patients who use the semi-synthetic narcotic Suboxone. Suboxone is a combination of Buprenorphine and Narcan, and it is a sublingual formulation, which means it is taken under the tongue. Taken this way, the Buprenorphine is absorbed through the mucus membrane, while the Narcan is not. This drug cannot be injected, because the Narcan component causes instant opiate withdrawal.
Treating Buprenorphine dependency - Detox MethodsBuprenorphine detox can be difficult because there are both mental and physical aspects of Buprenorphine dependency. Opiates travel rapidly through the bloodstream to the brain, where they stimulate opiate receptors, triggering intense feelings of pleasure and reward. This quick high is followed a state of relaxation and contentment that lasts for several hours. Concurrently, opiates act directly on the respiratory center in the brainstem, causing a decrease in the breathing rate of the user. When Buprenorphine and/or other opiate-derivative drugs are used incorrectly, this reduction in breathing can be dangerous and even fatal.
Traditional methods that Buprenorphine dependency-talk therapy along with medicinal treatment to lessen the pain of withdrawal-often have low success rates (less than 10% after the first year) due to the drug's powerful, physically addictive properties.
sooooooooo TRUE
Oh that scares me!
there is also large evidence to support injecting it with naltrexone make NO difference and reports between placebo and non placebo , the group reported it as it felt like heroin, infact bupenorphine actually stops the narcain binding to receptors makeing overdose nearly impossible to stop. It all sounded so reasonable untill they found that bupenorphine was more powerfull than the narcain.
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