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Treatment
Suboxone Treatment in Southern WV: How to Get Started
Suboxone helps treat opioid addiction. Here's what to expect at your first appointment, how the medication works, and how to access treatment in Southern West Virginia.
Suboxone is one of the most effective medications for treating opioid addiction. But a lot of people don’t know how to access it or what to expect.
This guide walks you through how Suboxone treatment works and how to get started in Southern West Virginia.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a medication that helps treat opioid use disorder. It contains two ingredients:
Buprenorphine — reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without getting you high.
Naloxone — prevents misuse. If you try to inject Suboxone, the naloxone causes withdrawal.
Suboxone comes as a film that dissolves under your tongue. You take it once a day.
How does Suboxone work?
Suboxone attaches to the same receptors in your brain that opioids do, but it doesn’t create a high. It just makes you feel normal.
It reduces cravings so you’re not constantly thinking about using. It prevents withdrawal so you don’t feel sick. And it blocks other opioids, so if you do use, you won’t feel the effects.
This gives you space to focus on recovery instead of constantly fighting cravings.
How to get started with Suboxone
Step 1: Call to schedule an appointment
You don’t need a referral. You can call directly.
When you call, they’ll ask:
- What you’re using
- How much and how often
- When you last used
- What insurance you have (or if you need sliding scale)
Step 2: First appointment (induction)
Your first appointment is called induction. This is when you start Suboxone.
You need to be in withdrawal before you can take your first dose. This usually means waiting 12-24 hours after your last opioid use (longer for long-acting opioids like methadone).
Why? If you take Suboxone too soon, it can cause precipitated withdrawal — which feels worse than regular withdrawal.
At your appointment:
- The doctor will assess your withdrawal symptoms
- Once you’re in enough withdrawal, you’ll take your first dose
- You’ll wait in the office for 30-60 minutes to make sure you tolerate it
- The doctor will adjust your dose as needed
Most people feel relief within 30-60 minutes of their first dose.
Step 3: Follow-up appointments
After induction, you’ll have regular appointments to:
- Check in on how you’re doing
- Adjust your dose if needed
- Get counseling
- Get medication refills
Frequency:
- Weekly or every few days at first
- Every 1-2 weeks once you’re stable
- Monthly after a few months
What does counseling involve?
Counseling is required as part of Suboxone treatment. It’s not optional.
Counseling helps you:
- Understand what triggers your use
- Learn coping skills
- Address underlying issues (trauma, mental health, relationships)
- Build a support system
- Plan for the future
Some programs offer individual counseling. Some offer group counseling. Most offer both.
How long do you stay on Suboxone?
There’s no set timeline. Some people stay on Suboxone for a year. Some stay on it for several years. Some stay on it indefinitely.
The goal isn’t to rush off Suboxone. The goal is stability and recovery.
When you and your doctor decide you’re ready, you can taper off slowly. But there’s no pressure to do that before you’re ready.
Does Suboxone get you high?
No. Suboxone has a ceiling effect. Taking more doesn’t make you feel higher. It just reduces cravings and withdrawal.
If you’re taking it as prescribed, you’ll feel normal — not high, not sick. Just normal.
What if you use while on Suboxone?
Suboxone blocks the effects of other opioids. If you use while on Suboxone, you probably won’t feel much.
If you do use:
- Don’t stop taking your Suboxone
- Tell your counselor or doctor
- Figure out what triggered the use
- Adjust your treatment plan
Relapse is part of recovery for a lot of people. It doesn’t mean Suboxone failed. It means you need more support.
The stigma around Suboxone
There’s a lot of stigma around Suboxone. People say things like:
“You’re not really sober if you’re on Suboxone."
"You’re just trading one addiction for another."
"Real recovery means being drug-free.”
None of that is true.
Suboxone is evidence-based treatment. It’s recommended by every major medical organization. And it works.
Being on Suboxone is like being on medication for diabetes or high blood pressure. It’s treating a medical condition.
What about drug tests?
Suboxone doesn’t show up on standard drug tests. But some tests specifically check for buprenorphine.
If you’re in a Suboxone program, your provider knows you’re taking it. They’ll do regular urine drug screens to make sure you’re taking your medication and not using other substances.
This isn’t to punish you. It’s to monitor your progress and keep you safe.
Can you work while on Suboxone?
Yes. Suboxone doesn’t impair you. A lot of people on Suboxone work full-time, drive, and function normally.
What if you’re pregnant?
Suboxone is safe during pregnancy. In fact, it’s recommended.
Untreated opioid use during pregnancy is dangerous for both you and the baby. Suboxone stabilizes you and reduces risks.
Your doctor will work with you to find the right dose during pregnancy.
What about cost?
If you have Medicaid: Suboxone is covered with little to no copay.
If you have private insurance: Most plans cover Suboxone, but you might have a copay.
If you don’t have insurance: Community mental health centers offer sliding scale fees based on what you can afford.
What if you can’t get to appointments?
Getting to weekly appointments can be hard in rural areas. Long drives. Winter roads. Work schedules.
Options:
- Telehealth appointments (phone or video)
- Scheduling appointments on days when roads are clear
- Asking about less frequent appointments once you’re stable
What if you’ve tried Suboxone before and it didn’t work?
That happens. Here’s why it might not have worked:
- You didn’t stay on it long enough
- Your dose wasn’t right
- You didn’t have counseling support
- Life circumstances got in the way
Just because it didn’t work once doesn’t mean it won’t work now.
How Suboxone is different from methadone
Both Suboxone and methadone treat opioid addiction, but they work differently:
Suboxone:
- You can get it at a doctor’s office or clinic
- You take it at home
- Lower risk of overdose
- Easier to taper off
Methadone:
- You have to go to a methadone clinic every day (at least initially)
- You take it at the clinic under supervision
- More tightly regulated
- Harder to taper off
Southern Highlands offers Suboxone, not methadone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for Suboxone to work?
You’ll feel relief from withdrawal within 30-60 minutes of your first dose.
Can you drink alcohol while on Suboxone?
You shouldn’t. Mixing Suboxone and alcohol can be dangerous.
What happens if you miss a dose?
Take it as soon as you remember. If you miss multiple doses, call your doctor before taking it again.
Can you stop Suboxone cold turkey?
You shouldn’t. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal. If you want to stop, talk to your doctor about tapering slowly.
Will Suboxone show up on a drug test for a job?
Standard employment drug tests don’t test for buprenorphine. But some do. If you’re worried, ask the testing company what they’re testing for.
If you’re interested in Suboxone treatment in Southern West Virginia, you can call Southern Highlands’ Suboxone program at (304) 425-9541 ext. 1277. They serve Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties.