Suboxone: Traditional Recovery's Downfall? Part Two

Part Two: Drug obsession and character defects.

Suboxone has given us a new paradigm for treatment which I refer to as the 'remission model'. This model takes into account that addiction is a dynamic process far more dynamic than previously assumed. To explain, the traditional view from recovery circles is that the addict has a number of character defects that were either present before the addiction started, or that grew out of addictive behavior over time. Opiate addicts have a number of such 'defects.Opiate addiction is unique in the degree of dishonest that develops during active use. Other defects are common to all substance users; the addict represses awareness of his/her trapped condition and creates an artificial 'self' that comes off as cocky and self-assured, when deep inside the addict is frightened and lonely. The obsession with using takes more and more energy and time, pushing aside interests in family, self-care, and career. Addicts become extremely self-centered, and hyper-aware of every uncomfortable bodily sensation. The opiate addict becomes obsessed with comfort, avoiding activities that cause one to perspire or exert one's self. The active addict learns to blame others for his/her own misery, and eventually their irritability results in loss of jobs and relationships.

The traditional view holds that these character defects do not simply go away when the addict stops using. People in AA know that simply remaining sober will cause a 'dry drunk'a nondrinker with all of the alcoholic character defects-- when there is no active recovery program in place. I had such an expectation when I first began treating opiate addicts with suboxonethat without involvement in a 12-step group the person would remain just as miserable and dishonest as the active user. I realize now that I was making the assumption that character defects were relatively staticthat they developed slowly over time, and so could only be removed through a great deal of time and hard work. The most surprising part of my experience in treating people with suboxone has been that the defects in fact are not 'static', but rather they are quite dynamic. A suboxone patient differs from a 'dry drunk' by having been freed from the desire to use. A patient in a 'dry drunk' is not drinking, but in the absence of a recovery program they continue to suffer the conscious and unconscious obsession with drinking. People in AA will often say that it isn't the alcohol that is the problem; it is the 'ism' that causes the damage. Such is the case with opiates as wellthe opiate is not the issue, but rather it is the obsession with opiates that causes the misery and despair. With this in mind, I now view character defects as features that develop in response to the obsession to use a substance. When the obsession is removed the character defects will go way, whether slowly, through working the 12 steps, or rapidly, by the remission of addiction with suboxone.

In traditional step-based treatment the addict is in a constant battle with the obsession to use. Some addicts will have rapid relief from their obsession when they suddenly experience a 'shift of thinking' that allows them to see their powerlessness with their drug of choice. For other addicts the new thought requires a great deal of addition-induced misery before their mind opens in response to a 'rock bottom'. But whether fast or slow, the shift of thinking is effective because the new thought approaches addiction where it livesin the brain's limbic system. The processes of the higher-order brain, including promises and will power, have proven to be of little value when it comes to staying clean. While these approaches almost always fail, the addict will find success in surrender and recognition of the futility of the struggle. The successful addict will view the substance with feara primitive emotion from the old brain. When the substance is viewed as a poison that will always lead to misery and death, the obsession to use will be lifted. Unfortunately it is man's nature to strive for power, and over time the recognition of powerlessness will fade. For that reason, addicts must continue to attend meetings where newcomers arrive with stories of misery and pain, which reinforce and remind addicts of their powerlessness.

The dynamic nature of personality.

My experiences with Suboxone have challenged my old perceptions, and led me to believe that the character defects of addiction are much more dynamic. Suboxone removes the obsession to use almost immediately. The addict does not then enter into a 'dry drunk', but instead the absence of the obsession to use allows the return of positive character traits that had been pushed aside. The elimination of negative character traits does not always require rigorous step work in many cases the negative traits simply disappear as the obsession to use is relieved. I base this opinion on my experiences with scores of suboxone patients, and more importantly with the spouses, parents, and children of suboxone patients. I have seen multiple instances of improved communication and new-found humility. I have heard families talk about 'having dad back', and husbands talk about getting back the women they married. I sometimes miss my old days as an anesthesiologist placing labor epidurals, as the patients were so gratefuland so I am happy to have found Suboxone treatment, for it is one of the rare areas in psychiatry where patients quickly get better and express gratitude for their care.

A natural question is why character defects would simply disappear when the obsession to use is lifted? Why wouldn't it require a great deal of work? The answer, I believe, is because the character defects are not the natural personality state of the addict, but rather are traits that are produced by the obsession, and dynamically maintained by the obsession.

See: Part Three: Combining suboxone treatment and traditional recovery.