If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid dependence, you know how overwhelming the cycle of cravings and withdrawal can feel.
At Lori Scott Family Care in Kinston, North Carolina, we understand that opioid addiction is a chronic medical condition, not a moral failing. When you’re fighting addiction, Lori C. Scott, MD, provides compassionate, evidence-based care to help you break free from this cycle and reclaim your life.
Dr. Scott offers Suboxone therapy to safely ease physical symptoms and quiet the mental noise of cravings. This life-saving medication-assisted treatment gives your brain the stability it needs so you can focus on long-term healing.
Suboxone is a combination of two medications: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine satisfies the brain's physical need for opioids, while naloxone is included to prevent misuse. This combination is highly effective at keeping patients safe and engaged in recovery.
Suboxone safely reduces opioid cravings and withdrawals by binding to the brain's opioid receptors — it satisfies physical dependence without producing a dangerous high. Because it’s a partial agonist, Suboxone acts as a biological shield, blocking other opioids from taking effect and preventing lethal overdose.
A large-scale study published in 2024 found that patients with opioid use disorder who were prescribed buprenorphine-naloxone achieved an 81% greater remission rate over a one-year period compared to those who didn’t receive the medication.
Choosing this medically supervised approach is safer and more effective than going "cold turkey" because it treats opioid use disorder as a chronic brain disease rather than a temporary behavioral issue. Attempting to stop using opioids on your own without medical support often leads to severe physical agony, which drastically increases your risk of relapse.
When someone stops using opioids abruptly, their physical tolerance drops rapidly. If they relapse after a period of abstinence, their risk of a fatal overdose spikes dramatically.
Research shows that discontinuing buprenorphine prematurely is highly dangerous; mortality rates can skyrocket up to 9 times higher in the weeks after a patient stops taking the medication compared to when they remain on it.
A 2024 National Institutes of Health report showed that patients on higher doses of buprenorphine stay stable significantly longer without emergency medical visits. This is because higher doses are often necessary to fully block fentanyl's powerful effects on the brain and prevent breakthrough cravings.
Additionally, with the rise of highly potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl, standard treatments must adapt. Working with an addiction specialist like Dr. Scott increases your chances of success.
Recovery from opioid addiction requires time, patience, and professional support. You don't have to go through the pain of withdrawal alone, and you don't have to let cravings control your future.
At Lori Scott Family Care, Dr. Scott can help you reclaim your life. To explore how Suboxone can support your recovery, please schedule a consultation today.
