I’ve been on Methadone for over a decade for chronic pain. I consider myself clean and sober.
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Life saving med. You are good!
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My 40 yr old son has been on it for 11 yrs. In that time he got a great paying job, got married and bought a house. He’s definitely considered clean and sober. 
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It’s a means to an end. Definitely clean and sober. As long as you don’t misuse it life is good!
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Does it have worse withdrawals than opiates? Does it actually do anything about the mental health issues that caused us to use in the first place? Is it a abusable? Yes, no, and yes.
I’m glad that it keeps people from using street drugs but the day that their script dries up, many people end up using again because of how miserable they are. And I certainly know what NA has to say about it..
Whatever keeps you alive, I’m happy for that. But to the question “am I clean on subs”, I would say no, and programs like NA or most reputable treatment programs would feel the same way I do.
Just my opinion. I would not wish sub withdrawal on my worst enemy.
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As long as you don't misuse it.
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As long as you're using it as directed and not to get high. Also careful what responses you take into consideration this is an opinion location and not a medical professional you are asking.
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NA does not feel that way near me. If you are taking medication as prescribed and not abusing it you are absolutely in recovery and "clean" tell a cancer patient not to have pain meds to remain "clean" everyone's perception is different
Well, and here we go, this is always a bees nest.
Substance abuse is a mental disease, you can’t treat it by just covering up the cravings. You’re gambling your life on that prescription being constantly available. And the cancer comparison falls flat because, again, this is a mental health issue, and cancer actually requires medication. I’m living proof that suboxone is not necessary, so is everyone else in my circle who’s clean. But I’m glad some of y’all aren’t using something more dangerous. I’ll leave it at that.
To the person who said listen to medical advice, one of the problems is that the medical community is not in agreement about this either. Do whatever you feel is right. Just make sure to check your motives and keep an open mind.
To the person who said NA in their area is cool with it, that’s certainly not the group conscience in the south Florida area so maybe even NA globally can’t agree on it. We certainly don’t consider it clean down here
Ever wonder what’s in suboxone?
Ingredients:
Physically still addicted
Offended by recovery groups
Vape Clouds
“I don’t have a sponsor”
Dirty Jordan’s
“At least it’s not heroin”
Low credit score
“Lemme get a cig”
Neck tattoos
Flatbill hat
I got off of prescribed opioids after 8 yrs. Pretty much on my own. I got a weeks worth of Ativan to help with withdrawals. It was hard but I did it.
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If you’re using it AS prescribed!
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It’s your recovery and your business.
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Great point. Truly.
Suboxone is a drug to be used to eventually get you detoxed because of the side effects do some research on it. It creates anxiety and messes up your vision too!
suboxone = buohrenorphine + naltrexone.
buphrenorphine = provides an opiate receptor binding (by itself can provide or replace a high)
naltrexone = binds and blocks same receptors from any other use.
if its being prescribed and you are vigorously pursuing steps and program, sure, sober; anything outside of this is substance use/abuse.
use as opiate maintenance/replacement for previous opiate tolerance is dangerous on a long term scale, be advised. same can be said of using it for pain management. obviously chronic pain management for real issues is difficult with any substance, and suboxone/subutex is no exception to physical tolerance/addiction and/or post withdrawl. notwithstanding having good program/steps, it is a slippery slope.
Matt. I think your posts have some validity.
The fact is that subutex/suboxene is a sensitive subject in the NA group. I posted this 6 months ago. At that point it was a “no effing way”. It’s a mind altering drug and your not clean even if it’s prescribed by a dr, taking as prescribed, sponsored ok, etc. big NO. Then people started dying and we opened up about it.
A medication that can keep people from screaming in pain and have such quality of life seems a lot like a Psychiatric medication, doesn’t it? Are those not ok per NA standards if taken as prescribed? They also have withdrawals too, right?
One thing I do agree with you on though is what happens if say big pharm decides to stop making it? My hope is that by then they come up something better, safer.
It isn’t easy feeling judged when all your trying to do is simply survive.
Why would big pharm ever stop making it, they must be making an absolute fortune. People can get put on it for decades and you KNOW they can’t just stop.
I don’t mean to pass judgment but I’ve lost a lot of people who relapsed from subs, either because they stopped taking them or they lost their doctor, moved, couldn’t access their script for whatever reason and ended up with a needle in their arm again.. because there was no change that occurred with them except a change of the substance they were using to put a band aid on the mental health issue that caused them to use in the first place.
When is a life or death issue i don’t really mind if someone’s feelings get hurt.. the same way no one should really mind what I’m saying if they’re not ready to quit subs yet. But I believe true recovery involves a total change in your thinking, not just switching substances. I don’t have the desire to use anymore. I’m not a wizard, in just took the suggestions that were given to me from NA… all of them. I didn’t try and make up my own version of a program, and usually when a step program fails it’s because a member closes not to get a sponsor, not to work steps, not do service work, not get a home group, any combination of those things.