MethAddiction.net - Crystal Meth Information Center

The FDA approval of buprenorphine as a drug that can be used in heroin addiction treatment certainly spells good news for all the people who are looking at some kind of treatment for their heroin habit but do not want to enter into a rehab center either for the stigma associated with it or for the inconvenience of the treatment method. This is special good news for states that are battling to bring more needy people into heroin treatment centers but are not able to manage the task. Especially for the scene of substance abuse treatment in Louisiana, this is great news.

Buprenorphine is administered as outpatient medicine in its hydrochloride form. That means people do not need to enter into addiction treatment centers. They can seek an outpatient mode of treatment. Even if they have been in a heroin detox program in Louisiana, the time people would spend in the center is considerably reduced because they can continue the therapy in their homes much faster than they would earlier.

But, buprenorphine is a habit forming drug in itself. For that reason, it is important that usage of the drug be medically monitored. But since there are not as many adverse effects in using this drug as there are with other treatment methods for heroin addiction in Louisiana, notably methadone, this drug can be provided as outpatient treatment.

Recently, two more drugs with buprenorphine in them were approved by the FDA. These are Subutex which is a purer and stronger form of buprenorphine, and Suboxone, which is buprenorphine mixed with naloxone to reduce its addictive nature.

Posted in: Heroin Abuse