In 2025, 5.9 million people over age 12 had an opioid addiction. That number from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics is mindblowing and scary, considering opioid addiction has contributed to 1.15 million deaths since 1999.
Suboxone is a breakthrough drug that helps people overcome opioid addiction by reducing cravings, lowering withdrawal symptoms, and minimizing relapse risks. It’s highly effective, which is why Dr. Lori Scott prescribes it at Lori Scott Family Care in Kinston, North Carolina.
Dr. Scott is an experienced addiction specialist, offering Suboxone and other treatments for opioid addiction and alcohol dependence. Here’s what she wants you to know about Suboxone’s effectiveness.
Suboxone is a mix of two medications: buprenorphine and naloxone.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it sticks to opioid receptors. It then reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the traditional “high” of opioids.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the pleasurable effects of opioids. Naloxone is present in Suboxone to prevent misuse of the medication in people with opioid addiction.
Suboxone therapy has two phases. The induction phase begins when the effects of opioids in your body start to wear off and you begin withdrawal. During this period, the medication helps decrease withdrawal symptoms, starting the recovery process, and making it easier to stick with.
The maintenance phase occurs after you’re over withdrawal and works to prevent relapse.
When taken correctly, Suboxone is highly effective in treating patients with an opioid addiction. While it does help the recovery process, it’s not a standalone treatment.
Suboxone is most effective when it’s part of a recovery program. That often includes regular check-ins, support groups, and an inpatient or outpatient treatment program.
The reason Suboxone is so effective for opioid addiction is that the two medications work together in one treatment. Buprenorphine works as a mild opioid that helps to reduce painful withdrawal symptoms. Naloxone is the primary reason Suboxone is effective — it prevents users from abusing Suboxone while they’re on the path to recovery.
Dr. Scott typically starts Suboxone treatment 12 to 24 hours after you’ve last used an opioid drug, just as early withdrawal begins. Many people feel relief from withdrawal symptoms within the first few hours of taking Suboxone.
She monitors your progress very closely in the first few weeks and adjusts your Suboxone dose as necessary. Over the next few months, you’ll have frequent check-ins to ensure you’re using Suboxone correctly and the dose is still working.
It’s not a quick treatment. Many people need Suboxone for a while to ensure they kick opioid addiction for good. But it’s an effective tool that gives patients hope of getting off opioids.
Don’t let opioid addiction rule your life. Schedule a Suboxone consultation with Dr. Scott today by calling the office or sending a message online.
