Subutex (Buprenorphine) is very similar to opiate medications like oxycodone and methadone but doesn’t cause euphoria.
Doctors use Subutex during opiate detox to reduce cravings for heroin and other opiate drugs to reduce the chances of relapsing. It also helps minimize withdrawal symptoms — which can be unbearable in many cases.
Over the course of the detox, the Subutex dose is gradually reduced until opiates are no longer needed.
Unfortunately, Subutex itself can be abused, and many users find themselves simply switching to Subutex addiction instead. This is why it’s critical that Subutex is weaned off in a timely manner under medical supervision.
Similar drugs are also available, such as Suboxone, which is a combination of the active ingredient in Subutex (buprenorphine) and naloxone — a drug that completely reverses the effects of opioids.
The addition of naloxone in Suboxone makes it extremely difficult for people to abuse because if they try and inject the medication it causes them to sober up immediately and enter a state of withdrawal.