Buprenorphine is a partial opioid is used in various dosages to: treat opioid addiction (high dosage) control moderate acute pain in non-opioid-tolerant individuals (lower dosage) control moderate chronic pain (small dosages) Trade names and formulations include: Buprenex, Subutex, Suboxone (addiction treatment) Butrans and Norspan (dermal patch, for pain) Temgesic (sublingual, for pain) Because of its low opiate effect, buprenorphine has a lower potential for abuse than other opioid drugs, but it can still be abused through crushing of tablets for snorting or for injection preparations. Some versions, such as Subuxone, have additives to discourage this abuse, but these are not total deterrents. Abuse is especially dangerous when combined with benzodiazepines.

Abuse and Detection

In abuse situations, buprenorphine is most often ingested in oral tablets, snorted as a crushed powder, or through injection preparations.

Common street names:

Subs, Bupe, subbies, tummies, oranges, sobos, box, stop signs

Symptoms of Abuse:

Slurred speech, , nausea, watery eyes, drowsiness, sweating, apathy

Testing Medium:

Urine and oral fluid

Medical Dangers (including withdrawal effects):

Nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, memory loss, cognitive and neural inhibition, respiratory suppression, death; dangers increase when used with alcohol or benzodiazepines.

Window of Detection

Urine 2-3 days; oral fluid 1 day