Case Study: Three Day Suboxone Taper for Opiate Withdrawal

Drug addiction has reached epic proportions throughout the United States. Providers and researchers are working to develop treatment options to help individuals who wish to overcome addiction. Suboxone tapers are now frequently utilized to manage opiate withdrawal. However, the use of a three-day taper is not well discussed in literature. This case study gives an overview of how a three-day taper may be utilized for some clients experiencing negative withdrawal symptoms. After initiating the suboxone taper, the client reported mild symptoms of withdrawal per the clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS) ratings. This individual was able to complete the detox program and move onto residential living. These results suggest that a three-day suboxone taper may help aid in the recovery of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), but due the limited size of a single case study, more research is needed including long-term evaluation.