HEROIN AND BUPRENORPHINE

There are a variety of effective treatments for heroin addiction. Treatment tends to be more effective when abuse is identified early. The treatments that follow vary depending on the individual. Methadone, a synthetic opiate that blocks the effects of heroin and eliminates withdrawal symptoms, has a record of success for people addicted to heroin.

Other pharmaceutical approaches, such as buprenorphine, and many behavioral therapies also are used for treating heroin addiction. Buprenorphine is a recent addition to the array of medications now available for treating addiction to heroin and other opiates. This medication is different from methadone in that it offers less risk of addiction and can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor's office. Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is a combination drug product formulated to minimize abuse.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse