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Nicole Byrnes
Professor Reynolds
March 18, 2022
English 1201
Literature Review
The opioid epidemic is an ongoing overuse of opioid medications that has resulted in an

epidemic. It began in the late 1990’s when opioids were being prescribed for pain management

and resulted in an overall rise since then. Ohio is the 5th highest rate of drug overdose deaths

in the United States. What are some possible treatment options for opioid addiction and the

consequences of long-term care?

This article is providing supportive care for people with an opioid use disorder. It is

identifying the cause and effect of the opioid use disorder. One of the treatment options is

starting at the root of the problem. “The exact cause of opioid use disorder is unknown, though

it is thought that a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors contributes to

the development of the disease.” (Brown).

This article is discussing the proper way to wean yourself off of suboxone. The doctors

play an important role in the treatment and addiction. “As suboxone treatment and addiction is

so individualized, there is no general timetable for quitting. (Drug Rehab). There is no one

solution for drug treatment and all treatments should be monitored.

Suboxone is a treatment within itself. Suboxone is a drug treatment to help with drug

cravings and withdraw symptoms. “If individuals show lifestyle and behavior changes that

indicate they may be able to maintain long-term recovery without Suboxone, the drug may be
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tapered and discontinued, with other therapy and measures put in place to support continued

abstinence. (Editorial Staff).

This book is about the balance between addiction and reality. “Balance is not about

taking away from one side or another but finding your expectations for each.” (Lemke). One of

the treatments of this addiction is balancing the levels of having dopamine with and without

drugs.

Suboxone is the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of opioid

addiction. Suboxone is not a cure for opioid addiction but a component to help. Common side

effects of taking Suboxone are headaches, sweating, cravings, fever, anxiety or depression,

insomnia, nausea, and back and abdominal pain. These side effects usually occur at the

beginning of starting Suboxone. (Thomas).

I feel the misconceptions of taking Suboxone or any other treatment plan is up to the

person. Suboxone contains 2 agents of mixed opioid agonist-antagonists which are Naloxone

and Buprenorphine. Suboxone was the first medication to be approved for base treatment of

opioid dependence. Suboxone has widely replaced methadone which can only be provided at

addiction centers. In March of 2022 Dr. Evan Massey was quoted saying “On the matter of

Medical Detox with M.A.T. it is a question of how you want the pain of withdrawal. Do you

want lots of pain over a short time? Or less pain over a longer time?” (Massey) I need to do

more research into how long is too long on detoxing from opiates while taking the medication?
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Works Cited

Brown, Nichole. “Providing Supporting Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder.” Nursing,
vol. 51, no. 7, July 2021, pp. 11–14.

Drug Rehab. “How Long Should I Stay on Suboxone.” Https://Www.drugrehab.org/How-Long-

Should-i-Stay-on-Suboxone, 4 Jan. 2016.

Editorial Staff. “How to Stop Taking Suboxone, Subutex or Buprenorphine.”

Https://Americanaddictioncenters.org/Suboxone/How-to-Stop, American Addiction
Centers, 7 Jan. 2022.

Lembke, Anna. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. Dutton, an Imprint
of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021.

Thomas, Scot. Suboxone Side Effects, Dosage & Amp; Treatment for Opioid Addiction, 2021,
www.recovery.org/suboxone/treatment/.