Expert: Caroline West - 4/6/2011

Question
Hello Caroline,My 20yr old son has used drugs in the past (not sure of all drugs). It got out of control last summer. He realized it was affecting his life in a negative way and wanted to stop. About 5 months ago, he shows me this website for suboxone ( a friend of his was prescribed it) and tells me that is what he needs. I talked to a few people (nobody seems to accept our insurance) to help him. One person advised us that this is a highly desirable drug on the street. Thats when the lightbulb came on to us. We think he desire to have this drug may be for monetary value than to actually take. The past 4 months he has been home, and has not done anything. We do not give him money or the car. I have seen his demeanor change and he seems good. I can confirm he hasn't touched anything per listening to his phone calls to friends) Now, out of the blue, he wants to try to get this subozene again. He does not want rehab, just the drug. We are skeptical. We would have to pay out of pocket for his doctor visits (which are expensive) (he has no job). I don't want to be scammed. He has lied before, and we do not trust him. However, I don"t want to not help him if he is for real. We offered our insurance (which he is on) but told him if there are out of pocket expenses he would need to get a job to pay for them himself. Thats where we are at right now. My question is, how much of an addict could he be, if he can quit taking drugs for 4 months by himself?

Answer
Hello Ann,apologies for the lateness in my reply,I realize now that I accidently overlooked it in my inbox so I am sorry for that and I shall do my best to help you with your query.

Straight off the bat, it's a scam.

Suboxone is a Heroin substitute. They are used to treat patients that are on Heroin and want to come off it. It is in the similar catagory as Methadone,again another Heroin substitute. The one and only reason to use Suboxone is for the client who has a Heroin addiction to go onto Suboxone in order to stop using and to maintain on this drug while they get used to being Heroin free.

Your son,who you say has been clean for 4 months is definitely up to something suspiscious. If he has money and is going out everyday and scoring Heroin then he has a problem. But you said he has no money so how could he afford to buy it which incidently costs a lot of money. Also he would be having terrible side effects-sweating,shivers,being sick,crying out to you to give him some money so he can score-that is what he would be doing if he was hooked on Heroin and thus what he needs the Suboxone for.

People do by this on the street and I have heard of people crushing it up and snorting it and there is a street market for it definitely in the states if there are insurance problems with getting it. So,from what you have said,your son is up to something. He hasn't got a Heroin habit,there is a need for Suboxone or Subutex on the street and he could get money for it. And just to add,it is low of him to expect you to pay for it and then him to sell it and pocket the money. You need to have a serious talk with him as that is disgusting behaviour.

I am glad for your sake that you have investigated this and written in and I will help you in any other way I can if you need it. Good luck. Caroline.