Business Wire | September 10, 2024
Crossroads Treatment Centers (Crossroads), a leading provider of substance use disorder treatment, recently introduced injectable medications as a new treatment delivery method to support individuals in opioid use disorder (OUD) recovery.
While medication has long been a standard treatment for opioid use disorder, the introduction of injectable forms of Suboxone represents a revolutionary approach. This method is especially beneficial for those who have struggled with adherence to daily oral medications.
“These safe, effective and powerful medications continue to transform the treatment of opioid use disorder, offering a convenient and reliable way to deliver consistent steady state doses of medication to thousands of patients in recovery, helping them lead productive and healthy lives,” said Dr. James Stephen, Chief Medical Officer for Crossroads.
How Injectable Medications Improve Recovery
When the long-acting medication is administered through injection on a weekly or monthly basis, it ensures steady and consistent levels of Buprenorphine in the bloodstream. This helps reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms more effectively.
The simplicity and convenience of injectable medications ensure that patients do not have to manage daily doses, which often leads to a more consistent treatment experience.
The treatment approach of injectable Buprenorphine addresses several of the challenges associated with opioid addiction treatment. Oral medications, while effective, sometimes suffer from poor patient adherence. Missing doses or inconsistent medication intake can lead to fluctuations in medication levels and affect treatment outcomes.
By contrast, the injectable form of Suboxone offers reliable dosing with fewer chances for patients to miss doses. This can result in better outcomes and a more stable recovery progress.
Impact of Injectable Medications on Treatment Adherence
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 6.1 million people were impacted by opioid use disorder in 2022, yet only 18.3 percent of these individuals received medication-based recovery support–a cornerstone of recovery from opioid addiction.
Crossroads is committed to increasing access to care by introducing more accessible and effective treatment options like injectable medications.
With injectable forms of Suboxone, Crossroads is addressing one of the key obstacles in treating opioid addiction: helping patients maintain consistent, long-term care without the challenges of daily oral medication management.
Benefits of Injectable Suboxone Medication
Injectable medications provide several distinct advantages over traditional oral medications, which can significantly enhance a patient’s recovery journey:
- Reduced Risk of Abuse and Tampering: Injectable medications are much harder to abuse or tamper with compared to oral medications, which can be misused. For this reason, they are often a safer option for patients in recovery.
- Greater Convenience with Fewer Office Visits: With injectable medications, patients typically need fewer office visits, as the medication is administered on a weekly or monthly basis. This reduces the burden on patients and allows them to focus on their recovery and other aspects of their lives rather than frequent trips to the clinic for daily medication dosing.
- Enhanced Engagement in Treatment: Because injectable medications do not require daily administration, patients can spend more time focusing on other critical components of recovery, such as counseling, behavioral therapies and building support networks. This increased engagement is crucial for long-term success, as patients can focus on addressing the psychosocial aspects of addiction.
Injectable Medications in the Context of a Comprehensive Treatment Plan
Injectable medications are just one component of a comprehensive approach to treating opioid use disorder at Crossroads.
These medications are meant to be used in conjunction with counseling and other support services that are tailored to the unique needs of each patient. This whole-person approach ensures that all aspects of the patient’s physical, mental and emotional health are addressed throughout the treatment process.
Combining medication-based recovery support with counseling and peer recovery services, Crossroads helps patients address the underlying causes of their addiction, while providing tools to help manage cravings and prevent relapse. The aim is to help patients regain their stability and return to their families and communities with the skills and support necessary to maintain their recovery in the long term.
Statistics on Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment Access
Opioid use disorder remains one of the most significant public health challenges in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 2.5 million Americans in 2021 suffered from opioid use disorder, while opioid overdose deaths continue to be driven by Fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
The expansion of injectable medications is a key step toward making recovery more accessible to those struggling with addiction.
Crossroads aims to address the barriers that many individuals face when trying to access effective treatment by increasing the availability of injectable forms of Suboxone and other medications. Through innovative methods like injectable medications, Crossroads is working to ensure that individuals who might otherwise go untreated have access to the care they need.