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What Is Suboxone ®?
Suboxone ® is a pill that has two different medicines
inside, buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a medicine that is used to reduce unpleasant withdrawl effects people have when they stop using opioid drugs such as heroin. Naloxone is a medicine that reverses the effects of heroin and related drugs. Giving these medicines together in one pill makes it easier to use them properly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Suboxone ® for the purpose of opiate detoxification.
What Is Withdrawal? How Long Does It Last?  
Withdrawal is the variety of symptoms that occur after use of some addictive drugs is reduced or stopped. Length of withdrawal and symptoms vary with the type of drug. For example, physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal may include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes. These physical symptoms may last for several days, but the general depression, or dysphoria (opposite of euphoria) that often accompanies heroin withdrawal may last for weeks. In many cases withdrawal can be easily treated with medications to ease the symptoms, but treating withdrawal is not the same as treating addiction.

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What is detoxification, or "detox"?
Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal. It is often the first step in a drug treatment program and should be followed by treatment with a behavioral-based therapy and/or a medication, if available. Detox alone with no follow-up is not treatment.