Suboxone clinics provide Suboxone medication to those struggling with opioid addiction. Suboxone helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms right away, and is also taken long-term to help with cravings and prevent relapse.
Suboxone clinics are:
- Outpatient - You check into a clinic, but don't stay overnight.
- Used only for opioids - Including heroin or prescription pain pills like Oxycodone, Fentanyl or Morphine (other medications are available for alcohol or non-opioid drug addictions)
- Covered by Insurance - Because the science says Suboxone works.
(Also known as: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs).
How It Works | Services | Is It Right For You? | Finding a Suboxone Clinic | Ask a Question | See also: What is Suboxone?
How Do Suboxone Clinics Work?
The first appointment is the longest to establish baseline vitals and time the medication based on the time of the last drug use. An initial appointment can take 2-3 and around an hour for all other appointments.
On your first appointment you:
- Check-in and meet with the medical team (~45 minutes)
- Get Suboxone (called an induction)
- Meet with a counselor
Going to a Suboxone clinic isn’t scary. Here are actual photos of Symetria Suboxone clinic buildings, teams and offices:
How often to I have to go to the Suboxone clinic?
You’ll check in more regularly for the first few weeks. Then, you may only need to check in monthly, while you take the medication at home every day. The specifics depend on the clinic rules and patient progress.
Some patients stay on Suboxone for years. You may consider talking to your medical team about tapering off Suboxone if you’re feeling confident after 6-12 months without abusing any opioids.
Who can prescribe Suboxone?
Doctors need specific authorization from the Department of Health & Human Services to provide Suboxone. The number of prescriptions an authorized doctor can write is monitored and limited. You can’t get Suboxone from a typical primary care physician.
How do I get Suboxone?
Suboxone clinics with an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) license are able to provide the Suboxone directly at the clinic.
Without the OTP license, the prescription is sent to a pharmacy. And, most pharmacies (including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart) too often refuse to fill these highly regulated prescriptions. Patients are asked to jump through hoops or are flat-out denied, leaving them with no medication. This is why most patients prefer Suboxone clinics.
OTPs are also allowed to provide methadone (Methadose) or buprenorphine injections (Sublocade).
Do Suboxone doctors take insurance?
Yes, most Suboxone clinics accept health insurance whether through an employer or public health insurances like Medicare or Medicaid. (Our Suboxone services are in-network with all major health insurers — including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Evernorth, Humana and UnitedHealthcare).
What happens if you relapse?
Suboxone clinics do drug test. Some providers kick you out for a failed drug test. That’s not realistic and not what happens here. We’ll talk about any relapse together and get you any extra support you want.
Suboxone Clinic Full Services
Suboxone clinics offer more than Suboxone. Therapy is a part of all Suboxone clinics and is recommended in conjunction with Suboxone by every major health organization, including the World Health Organizationⓘ and the National Institue on Drug Abuseⓘ.
The requirements for therapy vary by clinic. Usually, it’s monthly check-ins. Here, therapy is unlimited and available virtually if needed.
Symetria includes all evidence-based treatments to ensure patients have everything they need and to find what works for each person. Most Suboxone clinics won’t offer all of these services.
- Vivitrol - a non-addictive FDA-approved medication for addiction given as a monthly shot (See the What is Vivitrol? or Vivitrol vs. Suboxone articles)
- Methadone - FDA-approved medication for opioid addiction that is taken every day at an OTP clinic (See the Suboxone vs. Methadone article)
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - group therapy several times per week (see the What is an IOP Program? article)
- Dual Diagnosis - Diagnoses, therapy and medications for other mental health issues, most commonly depression, anxiety or trauma
If Suboxone alone isn’t working for you, you still have options. You may need to find a different clinic or layer in outside services if your Suboxone clinic doesn’t offer everything you need.
Is a Suboxone Clinic Right For You?
Suboxone clinics can be:
- A patients' first experience in treatment to avoid ever needing to go to inpatient rehab.
- An aid when transitioning directly out of inpatient rehab to prevent relapse in that critical period.
- A better option for those who have relapsed after already being in and out of rehab (especially multiple times).
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 2.4 million Americans used Buprenorphine last year. (Buprenorphine is the active ingredient in Suboxone).ⓘ
Out of the three FDA-approved medications for opioid addiction, Suboxone offers the best combination of convenience, treatment acceptance and effectiveness. The use of buprenorphine increased by 125% over the last nine years. Though, sadly, most people with opioid use disorder don’t get treatment. The gap in treatment is worse for the youngest patient group (ages 15-24).
Suboxone Use by Age Group
Finding a Suboxone Clinic
Criteria of Top Suboxone Clinics
- CARF Accreditation - This means the company is monitored for the highest standards and best practices in the industry
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) options - Even if you don’t use the IOP, this separates clinics equipped and dedicated to getting patients well
- Published success rates - With studies performed by third-parties that are better than industry standards
- Accepts Insurance - This means the treatment is trusted and audited
- Positive Reviews - Especially on Google
- OTP Licensed - To prevent you from having issues with pharmacies and provide more privacy.
Symetria Recovery
Known for high-success rates and comprehensive treatment that follows the science, including unlimited one-on-one therapy sessions.
Services: Offers Vivitrol, methadone and IOP in addition to Suboxone, which includes outpatient opioid detox. Plus, dual diagnosis (for depression, anxiety, trauma).
Illinois Locations: Suboxone Chicago, Suboxone Vernon Hills, Suboxone Naperville, Suboxone Palos Heights, Suboxone Joliet, Suboxone Des Plaines
Texas Locations: Suboxone Fort Worth, Suboxone Hurst, Suboxone Lewisville, Suboxone Houston, Suboxone Spring, Suboxone College Station , Suboxone Arlington
How Can I Find Suboxone Clinics Online?
If you don’t live nearby in Illinois or Texas, don’t worry. With insurance, call the number on the back of your insurance card or visit the insurance company’s online directory.
If you don’t have insurance, the U.S. government offers a free directory of treatment centers.
- Visit FindTreatment.gov and type in your zip code
- Click the filters to select “Buprenorphine” under the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) category
6 Comments
What if u have been on suboxone for 8 years and the drug isn’t showing up in your UA even though you have taken it?
Urine drug testing for Suboxone is complicated and known for high rates of false negatives. While this can be associated with not adhering to treatment or the use of other drugs that are interacting, it should not be used on its own to make any decisions. Here’s more research, if you’re interested > https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34520028/
Will it kill you to stop methadone cold turkey?
No. Stopping methadone abruptly will likely cause opioid withdrawal, which can be very uncomfortable, but it is not fatal. It is important to note that people going through severe untreated opioid withdrawal are at a higher risk for suicide. Therefore, if deciding to stop methadone abruptly, it is important that you do so with supportive treatment recommendations from your physician, and to have a close social support network of family or friends to help you through the difficult time.
Do u guys do AOD assessment and Suboxone program?
Yes, as a former patient of Symetria, they definitely do substance use screening. They also offer a Suboxone program. If they still carry the same medications as they did when I was a patient there, you could choose between the suboxone films, the tablets and you can ask if they still provide the sublocade/vivitrol shot, which is a once a month injection. They also have a bunch of wonderful counselors and medical staff. You will be very well taken care of, just as I was. Lots of luck on your journey!