Always Lurking for Answers and Always Full of Questions

[sassycajun]

First of all, let me say hello to all of my friends I have made on here (Cathy, Avisg and so many more) and hope all are doing well.  I am still hanging on and trying to help my b/f find his way to kick his long addiction.  It is always an up and down battle, and one I pray that he will eventually win.  I am very naive when it comes to drugs, but have learned so many things while reading these posts.  For those who do not know my story, I have never used drugs, but am in a relationship with a wonderful man who is addicted to Oxy and probably anything else he can get his hands on.  He is presently in outpatient treatment and being prescribed Suboxone.  He has even began group counseling this time, which I do hope he continues and I try to be as supportative as I can.

I am starting to get suspicious once again (like I said always up and down) and wonder if he is just in treatment to satisfy my wanting him to get the help he needs to get clean, or if he truly wants the help and is just struggling.  It is so hard when someone you love is an addict and able to manipulate you into believing what they want you to believe.  I try so hard to understand and stay on top of him slipping off once again.  My questions are:

(1) I thought Suboxone would get someone sick and put them into withdrawals if they took it along with anything else such as Oxy - is this true?

(2) I know Suboxone is available on the streets - are there new ways that this medicine is being combined with others or are there any ways it can be taken in order to get high and if so, how?

(3) Can anyone tell me how much Suboxone costs on the streets?  The reasoning behind this question is because I suspect my b/f may be selling them in order to obtain whatever it is he may be getting high off of.

I know there are so many people on here who think Suboxone, and even Methadone, are not the route to go in order to become clean, but after researching for so long and seeing him only get worse, it was the method we chose for him to get help.  I know I cannot make him want to fight this battle, but I can learn everything I can in order for me not to enable him and sometimes when he is spiraling downward, I can manage to pull him back into reality.

I do wish you all the best on your road to recovery and wish there would be a miraculous treatment to end all of this addiction disease.

[sassycajun]

Thank you GoingtoMakeIt and Lifesaride for responding.

Lifesaride, I do plan on trying to wait this out once again.  It was actually Sunday morning when I saw him nodding off, but with the heat and the way he has been working lately, it could be due to the circumstances.  The thing that is confusing me at this time is the fact that his eyes are not pinned whatsoever.  On Subs, his eyes are never pinned, but on Oxy, they are always pinned tight.  So maybe he is truly taking the Sub.  I'm sure if he is abusing, it's going to eventually catch up with him once again (money, sneaking, etc.) and he knows he cannot continue living like that.  As far as the powdery substance maybe being Sub, I don't see how it could be because I am holding the bottle and only giving him what he needs.  This is something he would be crushing and snorting.

Thanks again.

[lifesaride]

Hey there, to answer your ?'s
1) yes they will get sick if he takes oxy with suboxone
2)Not sure on this one, I have heard of one person sniffing them(problably out of habit)
3) if you google "street cost of suboxone" and add your state, there was a gov  study that will answer that..... I know in maine its 50, vermont 25 etc etc
But listen as far as the powder, suboxone is very chaulk like, I know my bottles have a lot of powder in them. could that be it? You might be suspicious because he's doing (well) and he might be it's not uncommon to nod, specially if it at the end of the day, for me anyway,....My suggestion is just hold onto the pills and see how the next couple weeks go, give it a chance to work, the suboxone treatment is not just as simple as taking a pill, its a compound effort, When it all comes together, it all comes together. good luck to both of you. life is just a ride!

[GoingToMakeIt]

It does sound like he is not taking the sub. He would be very ill and in w/d if he took it with an opiate. Until he makes the decision to stay clean, he won't improve. Keep encouraging him, but he is the one to change, not you.

[sassycajun]

He is currently taking the 8 mg./2 mg. suboxone and takes 2 to 3 per day (most days 2).  He was snorting 2 80 mg. Oxy's per day.  He has been attending group counseling through the clinic.  Can someone tell me what is discussed during these group counseling sessions?  I have gone to several of his appts. with the guy running this clinic and really have a lot of trust in this clinic.  They are supposed to randomly test their patients if they have any suspicions of abusing while taking Suboxone.  I have not told this guy of my suspicions, and not sure whether or not I should - any advice for this?  If I do tell him, my b/f may not get the treatment he needs, but if I continue letting him abuse at the same time, he truly isn't wanting to quit.

Last night, I did see a white powdery substance on the counter and of course, it was bitter and I am sure it was an opiate.  I did drag my b/f into the bathroom and confronted him, but got no response.  He really doesn't know what to tell me.  I do feel like he is pretty much running once again, because last night he also mentioned that he is considering taking a job out of the country for 4 months at a time, and he would be back 2 months.  We had a major argument about same and I am just sort of keeping my mouth closed at this time.  He will need to call in the next couple of days (or I will need to) in order to get his Sub Rx refilled.  He only receives 2 weeks at a time.

Any suggestions as to how I should handle this would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[avisg]

sassy,
what mgs are his pills? How long has he been on the sub.how much was he using before he went on the sub. Yes it is being sold on the street .I dont know whats it going for . It could  be that his sub dosage is to high now .

[sassycajun]

Hi Cathy.  I'm doing fine other than still fighting this old battle.  I figured they aren't cheap and this is why I think he may be selling some in order to get Oxy or whatever else.  He is now letting me hold the Suboxone, but he also takes 3 a day (so I give him 2 in the a.m. and 1 at night if he needs that one - last night, he didn't need the 3rd).  He is doing better than he was, but yesterday a.m., I did notice him nodding  off and this is one of the reasons my suspicions are back.  He has even given me all control of his money (it is direct deposited into my account - mine only) and I only give him $10 a day for lunch.  Of course, doing AC work he does, he could be doing a few side jobs.  Otherwise, I have no clue where he could be getting money in order to get anything else.

Thank you as always and take care.

[cathy5841]

he girl...how are ya?  i dont know how much subs sell for n the street but they are not cheap.  sorry you are still fighting this.  your b/f is luck y he has you.  pm me if i can help ya...