Do you have a friend or family member who is addicted to opiates? If so, you may be looking for ways to help them continue on the road to recovery. Opioid addiction is a serious issue that affects more than 23 million Americans every year.
The unfortunate part is that many of these people are unable to get the help they need and end up slipping back into opioid abuse again and again.
Fortunately, there are now several alternatives available that can help someone in recovery from opioid addiction stay clean and sober. One of the most effective methods is using suboxone as a smoking cessation aid.
Read on to learn more about how smoking suboxone can help your loved one stay sober from opioids.
Table of Contents
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone, which is also known by its generic name, Buprenorphine, is a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction and opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is a combination of two different medications: Buprenorphine and Naloxone.
Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid that is a partial opioid agonist. This means that it binds to opioid receptors in the brain and has significant opioid-like effects. It also has a ceiling effect, meaning that there is a certain dosage at which no more opioid effects are produced.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks other opioids from binding with their receptors. It is usually given to those who are taking Buprenorphine as a form of harm reduction. This ensures that those taking Buprenorphine do not accidentally overdose on it.
How Does Smoking Suboxone Help With Opioid Addiction?
Buprenorphine is used to help people with opioid addiction overcome their opioid cravings, stop taking other opioids, and feel better overall.
The way it does this is by activating opioid receptors in the brain so that the body can experience some of the same effects that it would experience if it were taking another opioid. It is also much safer than other types of opioids because it has a ceiling effect, meaning that it will not produce more opioid effects at a certain dosage.
Buprenorphine is also used as a smoking cessation aid. This is because it activates opioid receptors in the brain that can help people reduce their cravings for nicotine. In fact, several studies have found that smoking Buprenorphine can help people stay off nicotine for an average of 6 months.
Buprenorphine is highly effective at reducing cravings for opioids and helping people stay off addictive substances.
Benefits of Using Suboxone As a Smoking Cessation Aid
- Swifter Recovery: Suboxone can help you recover from opioid addiction much more quickly than many other methods. This is because it also helps to reduce cravings for nicotine, alcohol, and other addictive substances.
- Effective: It has been proven that smoking Buprenorphine can help you stay off nicotine for up to 6 months. During that time, you will experience no cravings for nicotine.
- Safe: Suboxone comes with very few side effects. Some people may experience headaches, insomnia, and abdominal pain, but these are not very common.
- Affordable: Buprenorphine is much less expensive than many other types of anti-addiction medications.
- No Hunger Strike: When someone is going through opioid withdrawal, they will often have an intense craving for food. Many methods of treatment rely on a hunger strike to help with this. Using Buprenorphine as a smoking cessation aid does not require a hunger strike, so it is much less uncomfortable.
Drawbacks of Using Suboxone as a Smoking Cessation Aid
- May Trigger Withdrawal: Though it is generally safe to take Suboxone to help with nicotine withdrawal, it can occasionally trigger withdrawal symptoms in people who are in active opioid withdrawal.
- May Lead to Addiction: Taking Suboxone to help you quit nicotine can lead to an opioid dependence, but it is far less likely to lead to addiction than taking Suboxone to treat opioid addiction.
- May Require More Time To Recover: Though Suboxone can help you recover from opioid addiction more quickly, it may take slightly longer to recover from nicotine addiction.
- Needs To Be Taken On A Regular Basis: Using Suboxone as a smoking cessation aid requires taking it on a regular basis, similar to other medications.
- May Cause Slower Weight Loss: Though Suboxone can help with weight loss in some people, it may have a negative impact on weight loss in others. This is because it can reduce appetite and cause nausea.
Short-Term Effects of Smoking Suboxone
- Reduction In Cravings: One of the most obvious effects of smoking Suboxone during nicotine withdrawal is that it reduces cravings for nicotine. This means that it is much easier to resist smoking.
- Reduction In Anxiety: Nicotine withdrawal can cause anxiety in many people, and smoking Suboxone can help with this.
- Reduction In Restlessness: Many people experience a lot of restlessness and anxiety when they try to quit smoking, but smoking Suboxone can help with this.
- Increased Energy: Some people experience extreme fatigue when they quit smoking, but smoking Suboxone can help with this and make it easier to get through the day.
Long-Term Effects of Smoking Suboxone
- Long-Term Recovery: While smoking Suboxone during nicotine withdrawal can help you recover much more quickly, it is important to realize that it is not a permanent solution. Once you stop taking Suboxone, you will go back to craving nicotine.
- Long-Term Weight Loss: While Suboxone can have a negative impact on weight loss in the short term, it has been shown to help with long-term weight loss.
- Long-Term Reduction In Anxiety: People who smoke Suboxone during nicotine withdrawal usually notice that their anxiety levels remain low for a long period of time.
- Long-Term Reduction In Restlessness: People who smoke Suboxone during nicotine withdrawal often notice that the restlessness is reduced for a long period of time.
Final words: Is smoking suboxone worth it?
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, it is important to get help as soon as possible.
Fortunately, there are now several safer, more effective medications available than there were in the past. One of these is Suboxone, which can help someone in recovery stay off other opioids while also helping them overcome cravings for nicotine.
Smoking Suboxone can be an effective way to overcome addictive substances because it helps you to recover more quickly and reduces cravings for several substances at once.
While it can be helpful, it is important to remember that it is not a permanent solution. If you need help dealing with an opioid addiction, make sure to seek out the help you need before it is too late.
