Suboxone: A Deadly Drug
Suboxone is used to treat heroin addicts; it’s being touted as a drug that saves lives. But used inappropriately the drug is highly dangerous and often deadly.
Investigators and specialists say that the drug world is ‘trendy’. These days Suboxone is becoming the street drug of choice and is an emerging threat in the U.S. Police are stepping up efforts to get the prescription drug off the streets. In 2008, the number of ‘busts’ for Suboxone was increasing. This year, as the demand for Suboxone on the streets increase, drug units across the country are making even more arrests.
Suboxone is fast becoming a much abused illicit opiate drug. Undercover officers believe the rise in Suboxone is tied to an increase in heroin use. They say that if users can’t find heroin or don’t want to go through the withdrawals they will seek out Suboxone. It is popular among younger people because it is relatively cheap; Suboxone is sold in pill form, which can go for as little as $3 on the street.
A few states have reported problems with doctors who are selling Suboxone prescriptions. It is ‘officially’ used to replace the opiate that addicts need to prevent withdrawal, but Suboxone is highly addictive and users often suffer tougher withdrawal symptoms than they would with a traditional opiate. Taken the wrong way Suboxone is deadly. Users, teenagers especially, often mix Suboxone with other drugs or alcohol; leading to higher chances of overdose and death.