The first buprenorphine treatment program for opiate addiction in the United States was founded by McDowell et. al at Columbia University & reported a success rate = 90%. Despite years of research to the contrary, methadone remains a gold standard in the armory of physicians.
The track record of opiate replacement therapy, while not perfect, has permitted hundreds of thousands of Americans (and millions more world wide) to achieve a reduction in the number and severity of relapses to illicit opiate use and associated costs to society in terms of criminal activity (burglary, theft, robbery, muggings) necessary to obtain money for drugs which ultimately wind up financing the vast, globally connected drug cartels. Additionally, opioid replacement therapy reduces the risk of contracting Hepatitis C and HIV among other communicable diseases. This, along with lowered rates of recidivism and incarceration for drug-Prohibition related crimes as formerly active addicts reorient their lives from the daily quest to stave off opiate withdrawal and reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens, has not changed the fact that the appearance of methadone clinics across the United States has changed little since their inception in the early 1970s. Opiate replacement therapy remains strictly regulated despite its success in harm reduction for both patients and society.
Suboxone contains buprenorphine plus a short acting opiate blocker called naloxone. Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic partial opiate agonist. That means, it has very unique properties compared with other opiates like hydrocodone and oxycodone. Suboxone can take away the cravings for opiates so the addict can work on figuring out why he or she takes opiates in the first place. doctors who prescribe Suboxone believe that it saves lives.
To find out more about Suboxone and how it works click here
Knoxville Opiate Drug Addiction Help 