>Is it possible to keep an addict satisfied with a lower tier drug? Yes, but the person has to want to make the change, since the ‘lower tier drug’ (buprenorph

>Is it possible to keep an addict satisfied with a lower tier drug? Yes, but the person has to want to make the change, since the ‘lower tier drug’ (buprenorphine) doesn’t get them high. It just stops cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while largely blocking the effects of most other opioids. Another benefit of buprenorphine is that it has a ceiling effect in relation to respiratory depression. For most opioids, if you take enough, you will stop breathing and die. Buprenorphine’s dose/response curve for respiratory depression and sedation turns flat after ~24mg, which makes the drug very difficult to overdose on.