A major treatment provider, Caron, weighs in on Hazelden’s adoption of buprenorphine maintenance treatment:
We use buprenorphine (Suboxone) to assist with the detoxification process from opioids and the length of time can vary depending on the patient’s progress and additional medical issues, such as chronic pain. However, unlike Hazelden’s goal as stated in the article, Caron’s treatment goal is to completely withdraw the patient from buprenorphine. We do not use burprenophine as an ongoing maintenance medication. Caron has been treating addicts and their families for more than 50 years and our evidence-based practices show that treatment requires medical, physical, behavioral, spiritual and psychological intervention.
At this time, we don’t believe there is sufficient evidence that remaining on a controlled substance, like buprenorphine, for the long term is a healthy approach to recovery. Instead, we focus on the critical role the 12-Steps play in helping individuals and families achieve and retain long-term sobriety and wellness.
It’s going to be interesting to see where the lines get drawn.
One neglected fact is that there are treatment programs that have already gone the buprenorphine maintenance route and abandoned it because the outcome did not resemble recovery and clients and their families were not satisfied.
Related articles
- Another Reaction to Hazelden’s Adoption of Suboxone (addictionandrecoverynews.wordpress.com)
- NAATP launches counteroffensive to medication push (addictionandrecoverynews.wordpress.com)
- Cognitive performance of opioid maintenance vs. abstinence (addictionandrecoverynews.wordpress.com)
- Suboxone Strategy: Protecting Patients Or Profits? (addictionandrecoverynews.wordpress.com)
- Hazelden to start opioid maintenance (addictionandrecoverynews.wordpress.com)
Addiction & Recovery News 
Fascinating because it seems such a shift in position. As you say, it will be interesting to see where lines are drawn.