Suboxone Treatment at Nova Transformations: Medication-Assisted Recovery in Charlotte NC
Reduce cravings. Prevent withdrawal. Build a life in recovery. Suboxone treatment combined with counseling and support for lasting change.
What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication used to treat opioid addiction. It contains buprenorphine, which reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and naloxone, which discourages misuse. Taken as a daily film or tablet under the tongue, Suboxone helps people stop using opioids while feeling stable enough to focus on recovery. Nova Transformations offers Suboxone as part of our comprehensive addiction treatment program in the Charlotte metro area.
How Suboxone Helps You Recover
Opioid addiction changes the brain. After regular opioid use, your brain becomes dependent on the drug just to feel normal. Without it, you experience withdrawal—the flu-like symptoms, the anxiety, the intense cravings that make quitting feel impossible.
Suboxone works with your brain chemistry, not against it. By partially activating the same receptors that opioids bind to, Suboxone reduces cravings and prevents withdrawal without producing the intense high that fuels addiction. This gives you the stability you need to focus on therapy, rebuild relationships, and create a new life in recovery.
Research consistently shows that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with medications like Suboxone leads to better outcomes than abstinence-only approaches—including higher treatment retention, lower relapse rates, and reduced overdose deaths.
The Two Ingredients in Suboxone
Suboxone combines two medications that work together to support recovery:
Buprenorphine
A partial opioid agonist that binds to opioid receptors in the brain. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the intense high of full opioids like heroin or oxycodone. Buprenorphine also has a “ceiling effect”—its effects level off at higher doses, reducing overdose risk.
Naloxone
An opioid antagonist that blocks opioid effects. When Suboxone is taken as directed (under the tongue), naloxone has minimal effect. But if someone tries to inject Suboxone, naloxone activates and blocks the high—discouraging misuse and making the medication safer.
Benefits of Suboxone Treatment
Reduces Cravings
Buprenorphine satisfies your brain’s opioid receptors enough to reduce the intense cravings that drive relapse. Many patients report that cravings become manageable within days of starting treatment.
Prevents Withdrawal
No more dreading the sickness that comes when you stop using. Suboxone keeps withdrawal symptoms at bay, so you can function normally while your body heals.
Blocks Other Opioids
When you’re on a stable dose of Suboxone, other opioids won’t produce the same high. This reduces the appeal of using and provides a safety net if you slip.
Take It at Home
Unlike methadone, which requires daily clinic visits, Suboxone can be prescribed and taken at home. This gives you flexibility to work, care for family, and live your life.
Lower Overdose Risk
Buprenorphine’s ceiling effect means it’s much harder to overdose on than full opioids. Combined with the naloxone component, Suboxone is one of the safer MAT options available.
Proven Results
Decades of research support Suboxone’s effectiveness. Patients on MAT have higher treatment retention, lower relapse rates, and better long-term outcomes than those who try to quit without medication.
Suboxone: Myths vs. Facts
There’s a lot of misinformation about Suboxone. Let’s set the record straight:
Myth: “Suboxone is just trading one addiction for another.”
Fact: Suboxone is a medication, not a replacement addiction. Like insulin for diabetes or antidepressants for depression, Suboxone treats a medical condition. It doesn’t produce the euphoria, impairment, or chaotic lifestyle associated with active addiction. People on Suboxone can work, drive, parent, and live normal lives.
Myth: “You’re not really sober if you’re on Suboxone.”
Fact: Recovery is about regaining control of your life, not just abstaining from all substances. Suboxone helps stabilize brain chemistry so you can focus on the real work of recovery—therapy, relationships, and building a meaningful life. Many people consider themselves fully in recovery while on MAT.
Myth: “Suboxone should only be used short-term.”
Fact: Research shows that longer treatment durations lead to better outcomes. Some people take Suboxone for months, others for years or even indefinitely. There’s no shame in taking medication for as long as you need it—the goal is sustainable recovery, not an arbitrary timeline.
Fact: Suboxone saves lives.
Truth: MAT with buprenorphine (the active ingredient in Suboxone) reduces overdose deaths by 50% or more. In the middle of an opioid epidemic that kills over 100,000 Americans per year, Suboxone is one of the most effective tools we have.
What to Expect: Starting Suboxone at Nova
Here’s what your journey looks like when you begin Suboxone treatment with us:
1. Initial Consultation
Meet with a licensed provider who will assess your situation, discuss your history with opioids, and determine if Suboxone is right for you. This is a judgment-free conversation focused on finding the best path forward.
2. Induction
You’ll need to be in mild withdrawal before your first dose (typically 12-24 hours since your last opioid use). Your provider will start you on Suboxone and monitor how you respond, adjusting the dose as needed.
3. Stabilization
Over the first few days to weeks, we’ll find the dose that works best for you—enough to control cravings and withdrawal without over-sedation. Most people stabilize on 8-16mg daily.
4. Maintenance
Once stable, you’ll continue your daily Suboxone while engaging in therapy, counseling, and support groups. Regular check-ins ensure your dose remains effective and your recovery stays on track.
Suboxone vs. Other MAT Options
There are several FDA-approved medications for opioid addiction. Here’s how Suboxone compares:
| Feature | Suboxone | Methadone | Vivitrol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Partial opioid agonist | Full opioid agonist | Opioid antagonist (blocker) |
| How Taken | Daily film/tablet at home | Daily liquid at clinic | Monthly injection |
| Reduces Cravings | Yes | Yes | Somewhat |
| Prevents Withdrawal | Yes | Yes | No (requires detox first) |
| Take-Home Option | Yes, from start | Earned over time | N/A (injection) |
| Overdose Risk | Lower (ceiling effect) | Higher | Very low |
Is Suboxone Right for You?
Suboxone may be a good fit if you:
Are Addicted to Opioids
Whether it’s heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, or other opioids, Suboxone can help. It’s designed for moderate to severe opioid use disorder.
Want Flexibility
Unlike methadone clinics that require daily visits, Suboxone can be prescribed by your doctor and taken at home, fitting around your work and family life.
Have Tried to Quit Before
If willpower alone hasn’t worked, medication can make the difference. Suboxone addresses the brain chemistry that makes quitting so hard.
Want Comprehensive Care
At Nova, Suboxone is part of a full treatment program that includes therapy, counseling, and support—not just a prescription.
Important: Suboxone Requires a Prescription
Suboxone is a controlled substance that can only be prescribed by licensed providers. At Nova Transformations, our medical team is certified to prescribe and monitor Suboxone treatment. We’ll work with you to find the right dose and ensure your treatment is safe and effective.
Why Choose Nova Transformations for Suboxone?
We’re not a pill mill. We’re a comprehensive addiction treatment center that uses medication as one tool in a complete recovery program:
Medication + Therapy
Suboxone works best with counseling. Our PHP and IOP programs provide the therapy, education, and support that help you build lasting recovery.
Individualized Care
No two people are the same. We tailor your treatment plan—including Suboxone dosing—to your specific needs, history, and goals.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Many people with addiction also have depression, anxiety, or trauma. We treat the whole person, addressing mental health alongside addiction.
Insurance Accepted
We accept most major insurance plans for Suboxone treatment. We’ll verify your coverage and explain your costs before you start.
Insurance Coverage for Suboxone
Suboxone is covered by most major insurance plans under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Coverage typically includes:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- United Healthcare
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Most other major insurance plans
We offer free insurance verification to help you understand your coverage before starting treatment. Generic buprenorphine/naloxone is also available at lower cost for those with high deductibles or limited coverage.
Ready to Start Suboxone Treatment?
You don’t have to keep struggling. Call Nova Transformations to speak with someone who understands what you’re going through. We’ll answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you take the first step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Suboxone
