Is Suboxone Really Sobriety?

[el_em_en_oh]

If one is taking Suboxone, do you consider that person sober?

*The person takes as prescribed and weened down to the lowest effective dose, with the help of a doctor
*The person doesn't drink alcohol, take any prescription medication they aren't supposed to, nor use any illegal substances
*The person goes to both AA and NA on a regular basis
*The person has a sponsor who has a sponsor
The person has worked the steps

Just curious what the forum thinks.

Is someone that takes Suboxone really "sober"?

[Bigdaddy1313]

El, I really love this site but there is something that I truly dislike. Most people here bash the heell out of Suboxone. I've only read a couple posts from people who believe Suboxone played a key role in them getting clean. I have read hundreds of posts from people who bash the drug and call it the devil. I would be dead if I didn't first start taking Suboxone. It gave me my life back when I was to weak to live my life the right way. It allowed me to go back to work and feel normal. It allowed me to put time and space between that person who was downing 500 to 700 mg of oxy's a day. It allowed me to learn about the disease of addiction and what it actually does to your brain. It allowed me to make a plan to get my life back. Can you be sober if you follow your doctors prescription and don't do the things you list above? Hell Yes! I entered an Intensive Outpatient Clinic when I first started getting clean two years ago. About half of the patients there were taking Suboxone and that question was brought up in one of our group meeting and one of the best addiction specialist in the country said if you take Suboxone just as prescribed that were and are sober!!!! I had a sponsor from NA who once told me that if you take Suboxone you could not be considered Suboxone. I asked why and he said you can't take anything in to your body that will make you feel different. Two seconds after saying this he said man I'm kind of stressed out tonight I need a smoke. I said didn't you just say you couldn't take anything into your body that will make you feel different yet you are going to smoke to relieve your anxiety! After thinking about this all I could do is laugh. Please understand I am not saying people who smoke are not sober. I can only speak for myself when that question is asked and I truly believe people should not have the right to say you are not sober because you are following your doctors orders. I'm sure the masses will not agree with me but oh well. I've read a lot of posts of people who are detoxing from Suboxone and they are pretty miserable. The common thing I have seen is most jumped from like 4 mg to zero. That's to big of a jump. That is my opinion and I don't judge anyone but myself.

[Junip]

I agree with the majority. And having been on subs myself, the fact that the withdrawals after stopping were worse than oxy or Percocet withdrawals really demonstrated to me their strength.

[vicki595]

Hey! How have you been?

SUBOXONE is an opiate so I share IBK's opinion.

[dominosarah]

Nice to see you LMNO!!

Ditto to what IBK said.

[refills]

IMO, sobriety can mean anything you want it to. Sounds like you already know the answer just by asking the question. Good Luck to you. (I'm a dog lover as well)

[IBKleen]

For me being clean or being sober means clean from ALL mind or mood altering substances. Anyone who is using Suboxone long term is using it as a crutch and not as the drug was intended. This is my opinion.