Does Suboxone Make You High?

Suboxone is used to treat opioid dependence and addiction by easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. However, due to its relation with opioids, people wonder if it gets people high during its mechanism of action.

According to the New Jersey Department of Human Services (2022), about 12% of all treatment admissions in the state involved buprenorphine therapy like Suboxone. Interestingly, 1% of those admitted were under 18, showing how widespread and early the need for help can begin.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone combines buprenorphine and naloxone to treat opioid dependence by easing withdrawal and cravings. You take it under the tongue to let buprenorphine partially activate opioid receptors, reducing discomfort without producing a full opioid effect. Naloxone blocks opioid effects if you inject or misuse Suboxone. 

According to a Rutgers analysis (2022), the number of Suboxone prescriptions under New Jersey Medicaid increased by 35% between 2019 and 2021.

The FDA classifies Suboxone as Schedule III, indicating moderate abuse potential. Its partial agonist function means you avoid the intense high of full opioids while lowering overdose risk. You use Suboxone to replace stronger opioids, cutting your overdose chance by half. 

Can Suboxone Get You High?

No, Suboxone does not get you high. You use Suboxone under Schedule III regulations, reducing overdose risk and stabilising your opioid receptors. As you take the medication as prescribed, withdrawal symptoms and cravings ease without giving you a full high. 

This mechanism makes Suboxone a safer option than full agonist opioids. Buprenorphine’s partial agonist effect reaches a ceiling, so you don’t feel full opioid euphoria. Naloxone blocks opioid receptors if you attempt injection, preventing intense highs.

Why Do Some People Feel High On Suboxone?

Some people feel high on Suboxone when they misuse it or lack opioid tolerance because buprenorphine’s partial agonist effect still activates receptors enough to produce mild euphoria if you haven’t developed dependence. You may also feel high if you take Suboxone without prior opioid use, since your receptors are more sensitive to any activation.

If you crush or inject Suboxone, naloxone’s blocking effect weakens but doesn’t fully prevent buprenorphine from binding. This improper use raises your risk of overdose and mental health disruptions. By taking the drug as prescribed, you avoid these risks and minimize any euphoric effect.

What Happens If You Take Suboxone Without Being Addicted?

If you take Suboxone without being addicted, then you risk unwanted sedation, dizziness, and nausea, as buprenorphine still activates opioid receptors. You experience mild euphoria or drowsiness despite lacking tolerance. 

Misuse increases your chance of respiratory depression and impaired coordination. Taking Suboxone alone disrupts your neurotransmitter balance and triggers dependence over time. Improper use also raises your risk of overdose since you lack opioid tolerance.

What Are The Effects Of Suboxone On Opioids?

The effects Of suboxone on opioids include blocking euphoria, reducing cravings, and precipitating withdrawal. These actions manage opioid impact by stabilising your receptors and preventing misuse. These actions manage opioid impact by stabilising your receptors and preventing misuse.

When you take Suboxone, it binds tightly to opioid receptors, preventing full agonists like heroin or oxycodone from producing a high. You experience fewer withdrawal symptoms and less craving, which supports recovery. While Suboxone is not approved for meth addiction treatment, its receptor activity helps you focus on reducing opioid use without severe side effects.

Over time, Suboxone lowers your risk of overdose and improves retention in opioid use programs. You maintain steady receptor occupancy, which keeps you stable and functional. By preventing highs and easing withdrawal, Suboxone reshapes how opioids affect your body.

What Happens If You Take Suboxone Without A Prescription In NJ?

If you take Suboxone without a prescription in NJ, you face legal penalties, health dangers, and street-related risks. These outcomes put you at risk both legally and medically.

What happens if you take suboxone without a prescription in NJ is as follows:

• Legal penalties: You may be charged with a third-degree crime for unauthorized possession. Conviction leads to fines, possible jail time, and a criminal record. This status affects future employment and housing options.
• Health dangers: You risk overdose and respiratory depression without medical monitoring. Unsupervised use prevents dose adjustment based on your tolerance. You may experience severe withdrawal symptoms if you stop abruptly.
• Street-related risks: You obtain unverified Suboxone from illicit sources. These products may contain harmful adulterants or incorrect dosages. You also risk violence or exploitation in drug transactions.
• Effects in non-dependent individuals: You may feel sedation, dizziness, or mild euphoria despite lacking opioid tolerance. These effects disrupt your daily activities and impair judgment. Continued misuse leads to new dependence and withdrawal cycles.

Is Suboxone A Safe Treatment For Opioid Addiction?

Yes, suboxone is a safe treatment for opioid addiction. You experience reduced withdrawal symptoms and cravings when you follow a medical regimen. This partial agonist stabilises your opioid receptors without producing a full euphoric effect. Suboxone carries a lower overdose risk compared to full agonists.

For heroin addiction, Suboxone helps you avoid dangerous highs and supports recovery. You maintain steady receptor occupancy, which lowers relapse chances and improves treatment retention. Medical guidelines recommend it as a first-line option for managing opioid dependence.

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How Long Do The Effects Of Suboxone Last?

The effect of Suboxone lasts for 24–36 hours when you use it therapeutically. Onset occurs within 30–60 minutes as buprenorphine begins activating opioid receptors, and you reach peak effects at 1–4 hours. Therapeutic dosing maintains steady receptor occupancy, suppressing withdrawal and cravings throughout the 24–36 hour window.

If you misuse Suboxone, onset still begins in 30–60 minutes, but the peak effect may intensify slightly if you alter the route (e.g., crushing or injecting). Misuse extends sedation and euphoria unpredictably, with effects lingering beyond 36 hours due to disrupted metabolism. You also face a higher risk of respiratory depression and overdose when levels remain elevated.

How To Prevent Suboxone Misuse?

The ways to prevent Suboxone misuse include prescribing guidelines, drug monitoring, and the MAT programme. These measures help reduce diversion and ensure safe use. Consistent oversight and structured protocols support your recovery and protect public health.

The ways to prevent Suboxone misuse are:

• Prescribing guidelines: Providers follow strict criteria before initiating Suboxone, ensuring you meet opioid use disorder diagnosis requirements. They prescribe the lowest effective dose and adjust over time based on your response. This approach minimises the excess supply that is misused.
• Drug monitoring: You submit to regular urine screenings and prescription database checks to confirm adherence. These checks detect diversion early and allow intervention when patterns of misuse emerge. Drug monitoring also holds you accountable while reinforcing safe use habits.
• MAT programme safety: You enroll in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program that integrates counselling, peer support, and medical supervision. These programmes deliver comprehensive care, reducing relapse risk through coordinated services. With built-in checks, you receive guidance on dose adjustments and safe tapering when appropriate.

Where Can You Get Suboxone Treatment In New Jersey?

Where you can get Suboxone treatment in New Jersey includes community health centers, hospital-based clinics, and telehealth providers. These settings include community health centers, hospital-based clinics, and telehealth providers.

Where you can get Suboxone treatment in New Jersey are:

• Community health centers: You can find federally qualified health centers offering sliding-scale fees and integrated care. Staff provide medication management, counselling, and peer support under one roof like Valley Spring Recovery Center who provides medication assisted treatment. These centers ensure you have access to Suboxone even if you lack private insurance.
• Hospital-based clinics: You visit outpatient clinics affiliated with hospitals for comprehensive services. You may join an intensive outpatient program that combines medical oversight with therapy and peer groups. These clinics coordinate care between addiction specialists and your primary care provider.
• Telehealth providers: You connect with licensed prescribers online for medication management and virtual counselling sessions. You complete initial assessments, receive prescriptions, and attend follow-ups without traveling. This option suits you if you need flexible scheduling or live in rural areas.