Buprenorphine is utilized in what is known as medication assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals in Mount Sinai who are opiate dependent to heroin or prescription pain killers. Not like Methadone which is also used in medication assisted treatment but is only allowed to be administered in highly structured clinics, Buprenorphine can be prescribed and dispensed in doctor's offices which supplies easier access to this form of treatment.
When Buprenorphine is utilized in recovery it can help individuals who are experiencing the intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal. Buprenorphine helps to control and reduce these withdrawal symptoms so that they can stay off drugs as well as not engage in typical drug seeking behaviors. When the medication assisted treatment idea was first formed and implemented, it wasn't meant to be a primary form of treatment but rather only part of a multi-faceted treatment plan that would ideally involve actual therapy practices for substance abuse and addiction recovery. Buprenorphine use would only be one component of a bigger all-encompassing treatment plan.
Buprenorphine might also produce the euphoric "high" associated with other opiate narcotics so it is commonly misused. This is another reason it is crucial for anyone deciding on medication assisted treatment as the recovery route they'd like to take, to also work with substance abuse counselors to incorporate other forms of substance abuse therapy & counseling and life repair actions into their course of recovery to ensure they are not at risk of relapse.
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