Suboxone Myths and Misconceptions
There are many myths and misconceptions about Suboxone treatment. Often people get the treatment from Methadone (a potent, full opioid agonist, that is a Schedule II medication) confused with Buprenorphine which is a Schedule III medication that is less potent, less addictive, and only a partial opioid agonist. Suboxone is not only a safer treatment for Opioid Use Disorder it is less misused and almost impossible to overdose on. The Naloxone in Suboxone is a safeguard against other opioid use and has better success rates for the complete treatment of opioid addiction. Read more below to learn about the 7 main myths and misconceptions of this life-saving medication and treatment.
Myth #1 – Suboxone is a lifetime medication
Suboxone (Buprenorphine) is a medication for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Same as with any other medication it is to be used for the length of time it takes to treat the medical ailment. This can vary greatly depending on the person, their current situation in life, their drive to be free of all medication, and how they handle decreasing or tapering off the medication.
A person should remain on Suboxone as long as it is contributing to their safe and stable recovery. As with all recovery once off Suboxone there is a risk of relapse, which with use of Opioid Addiction Therapy we can work with a patient to help them with aftercare plans to increase success. To read more about this, go to the Blog section of this page and read the blog titled “Life After Outpatient Opioid Treatment” published on 8/11/2025.
Click below to learn more about how completing Suboxone treatment is feasible and with minimal to no withdrawal symptoms.
Myth #2 - Suboxone replaces one addiction with another
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) has many possible factors for a person to meet the diagnosis of addiction. A way to summarize this would be that the person continues to use a substance despite harmful effects on their mental, physical, and/or social well-being.
By taking a medication as prescribed a person does not meet the diagnostic criteria for addiction. Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist which makes it a Schedule III medication, meaning it has less chance for abuse and addiction than other opioids and even Methadone which is a Schedule II medication. With Suboxone being only a partial opioid agonist, it is significantly less euphoric than any other opioid, therefore less likely to be misused. Click here to learn more about Methadone vs Suboxone.
Myth #3 - Suboxone is frequently misused
Very simple, any medication can be misused even over-the-counter medications. Unlike that of all other opioid medications, Suboxone or Subutex, which both contain Buprenorphine, are partial opioid agonist medications of the main opiate receptors (the “mu” receptor). This causes less euphoria (the high feeling) than any other opioid, which is why it is rarely misused.
Often people may misuse Suboxone (saying purchasing illegally counts as misuse) to help themselves get off of heroin, fentanyl, or pain medications, or to even manage their withdrawal symptoms. If Suboxone was more available to those in need or treatment was more easily covered by insurances or state funding, then patients would not have to self-treat. With this view of misuse we are in fact, blaming the victims here.
The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) does not mandate therapy or counseling services to be rendered at clinics with Buprenorphine (Suboxone) providers. Only that these providers are able to refer patients out for behavioral health services if the need is indicated.
Treatment on Suboxone alone, without the use of therapy, has been proven to be effective. Adding in therapeutic support during treatment does produce a better chance of successful recovery and is ideal. But the flaws and shortcomings in our broken healthcare system often leave people with an inability to receive the ideal level of treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. This is why Recover Clarity utilizes a state-of-the-art and Innovative Therapy Platform which is free for all patients, to assist with providing more information and therapeutic interventions for our patients. We also have traditional therapy options for patients in need and a wealth of referral sources through our Partnerships and Sponsorships to ensure patients get the level of care they need.
Myth #4 – Suboxone treatment requires mandatory therapy or counseling
Myth #5 – If you are on Suboxone you are not really in recovery
This is more a personal definition of what recovery is. From the 19030’s era when AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) was created, they took to a model of complete abstinence. This was later adopted by NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and some still adhere to a model that is almost 100 years old and not based on any scientific evidence. This outdated model does not reflect the reality of addiction, and such a belief has deterred many from seeking the life-saving treatment with Suboxone which has cost many lives.
Attitudes towards recovery have been changing more in recent years. Taking a medication that is prescribed by your physician, such as the Online Suboxone Doctors here at Recover Clarity, and does not cause any intoxication or high feeling which means the patient is 100% in recovery. Suboxone treatment helps many gain control of their lives, rebuild their lives, and beat addiction once and for all.
Myth #6 – Overdosing on Suboxone is as easy as it is with other opioids
This a completely false myth about Suboxone. However, this is a true statement about Methadone, which does contribute yearly to the opioid overdose statistics. Suboxone or Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist unlike that of all other opioids. Therefore, there is a ceiling effect that is built-in to this medication. This means there is a limit to how many of the mu opioid receptors are activated by Buprenorphine in Suboxone. It is the activation of these receptors which causes the slowed breathing in opioid overdoses which leads to death. Click here to learn how you can change from Methadone to Suboxone.
Almost all Suboxone overdoses are due to the patient taking this medication with another medication. Sedatives and Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, etc) when combined with Suboxone can drastically slow down breathing. If you are on any of those medications, please seek medical advice before combining such medication as it can be life threatening.
Myth #7 – Patients only get Suboxone to sell it on the streets
Diversion of all medications is a concern. One study found that diversion of antibiotics and Buprenorphine (Suboxone) were at similar rates around 20%. As mentioned in previous myths, diversion of medication is often centered around individuals trying to self-treat their opioid addiction whether it is cravings or withdrawal. Due to the flaws in the healthcare industry getting Suboxone treatment can be difficult for many individuals causing them to have to “misuse” Suboxone in the sense of self purchasing instead of having it prescribed. The selling of prescription medication is federally illegal regardless of the type of medication, but many would not view this the same due to the type of medication.
With the recent advancement to allow Telehealth Suboxone Clinics to operate more treatment options are available for someone that previously did not have a Suboxone clinic near them. This has proved to be of great assistance in helping people receive treatment and we are finally seeing a decrease in fatal opioid overdoses. However, all clinics are not the same and do not adhere to the standards we meet at Recover Clarity. If you are in West Virginia or Pennsylvania, we are here to assist you, check out our Areas of Service.