Outpatient Opioid Addiction Treatment
Dr. Bradley Drury, MD.
The convenience you need. The privacy you require. The direction you seek.
Ready to quit taking opiates but afraid of going through withdrawals?
You’re not alone. The fear of withdrawal is one of the main reasons people continue to use drugs. Here, we can provide a safe and effective way to deal with opiate withdrawal without completely interrupting your life.
At Hometown Family Medical, we understand your everyday hardship.
Dealing with addiction is a 24 hour job. Our experienced and credentialed medical staff are ready to help you. Scientific studies have now amply shown that addiction to opioids is a chronic relapsing brain disease. This means for many addicts it is a lifelong condition just like diabetes or hypertension.
Hometown Family Medical has added to our practice medical treatment for people suffering from a dependency on opiates, like Vicodin, Percocet, and heroin.
We treat people of all ages and all walks of life who are struggling with addiction and are afraid of going through withdrawals. Our physician can manage withdrawal symptoms and guide you to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Learn more about outpatient treatment options below.
HFM Specializes In:
- Suboxone Therapy
- Education and Prevention Activities that Help direct your time away from harmful drugs
- Case Management
- Referral Services
- Laboratory Testing
HFM Treatment Objectives:
- To treat our patients in a compassionate, non-judgmental manner
- To provide quality services and a positive treatment experience to our patients
- To provide addiction treatment service with respect and dignity to our patients
- To provide affordable services to patients
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is the first Opioid medication approved under a new Federal law called DATA 2000 for the treatment of Opioid dependence in an office-based setting. Suboxone also can be dispensed for take-home use, just as any other medicine for other medical conditions. The primary active ingredient in Suboxone is buprenorphine. Buprenorphine acts upon the brain’s opioid receptors in a limited way as compared with those produced by full opioid agonists, such as oxycodone or heroin. Buprenorphine, because of its properties, can relieve pain and stop cravings without adverse effects of tolerance (needing higher and higher doses) and altered mental states (e.g., euphoria, drowsiness). Suboxone also contains naloxone, and Opioid antagonist which block the opioid receptors. When Suboxone is placed under the tongue, as directed, very little naloxone reaches the bloodstream, so the patient receives the effect of the buprenorphine. However, if naloxone is injected, it can cause a person dependent on opiates to quickly go into withdrawal which prevents the Suboxone from being misused.
Suboxone is used to treat addiction and is a schedule III drug so the rules for methadone therapy do not apply. A patient for whom Suboxone is indicated may receive a month’s supply at a time. Counseling services must be available but are not required. Close monitoring by the physician is necessary at the beginning to determine the optimum dose. Most patients do well at 12–16 mg a day. The maximum dose is 24mg. Because buprenorphine has only a partial effect on the brain’s receptors, someone with a “heavy” habit is probably not a good candidate as the drug would probably not relieve the symptoms of withdrawal or drug cravings. A patient on methadone maintenance who would like to switch to Suboxone does well if their methadone dose is less than 60mg a day. This can serve as a useful stepping stone to abstinence, because it is easier to detox from Suboxone. Even though it has only a partial effect on the brain it strongly attaches to the receptor sites. This creates a “ceiling” effect. That is taking additional opioids on top of Suboxone will have little effect. This helps to discourage patients from using other drugs.
What does this mean for me?
Because the detox process can take place in our office, you are able to continue your life and do not have to take time off from work or school. You can continue your daily activities while on the medication. The convenience and effectiveness of Suboxone, in conjunction with counseling, leads you on the path of recovery.
I am a professional and hesitant to seek treatment, is Suboxone right for me?
At Hometown Family Medical, we realize that one of your greatest concerns is maintaining privacy. Our staff is dedicated in providing you with the utmost confidence you privacy and well-being in treatment will be held in strict confidence.
Getting Started
Don’t give up; even if you’ve tried and failed before. The road to recovery often involves stumbles, pitfalls, and setbacks. Simply by examining the problem and thinking about change, you are already on the way. The next step is to let us help you!
How did I get here?
Opioid use typically starts with pain, or more specifically the attempt to relieve pain. Opioids, also called opiates or narcotics, are pain relievers made from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. Morphine and codeine are the two natural products of opium and are often prescribed to combat intense and / or chronic pain.
When does pain pill use become misuse?
Drug misuse occurs when someone uses a medicine beyond a doctor’s prescription, usually with the intention to get high or to relieve anxiety or distress.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), opiate use disorder involves:
- Strong desire to use opioids
- Inability to control or reduce use
- Trouble meeting social or work obligations
- Having legal problems due to drug use
- Having withdrawal symptoms after stopping or reducing use of opioids such as upset stomach, insomnia, and muscle aches
Opioid addiction isn’t a moral or mental weakness. It is a chronic medical condition that results from changes in the brain in susceptible people.
Induction
Your appointment for induction will be scheduled, at which time you will meet the physician. You will be switched from your current Opioid (prescription pain medication on to SUBOXONE). Since an individual’s tolerance and reactions to Suboxone vary, appointments will be scheduled as indicated and medications will be adjusted until you no longer experience withdrawal symptoms or cravings.
Stabilization
Once the appropriate dose of Suboxone is established, you will stay at this dose until steady blood levels are achieved. You and your treatment team will discuss your treatment options from this point forward.
Maintenance
Treatment compliance and progress will be continually monitored. Participation in some form of behavioral counseling will be recommended to ensure best chance of treatment success. Your physician will check your progress as clinically indicated. However, if treatment progress is good and goals are met, monthly visits will eventually be considered sufficient. The Maintenance phase can last from weeks to years- the length of treatment will be determined by you and your physician. Length of treatment may vary depending on your individual needs.
Am I a good fit for treatment?
There are requirements set forth by the DEA with respect to who is a viable candidate for treatment. Potential clients must:
- Agree to remain in substance abuse counseling while taking Suboxone
- Have strong motivation and commitment to overcoming illicit opiate use
- Be able to reliably attend all office appointments
- Be behaviorally stable
- Be in stable medical condition
- Be able to follow the terms of the Suboxone treatment contract