Ohio Opioid Treatment Program Now Offers Sublocade and Brixadi

For people managing opioid use disorders, a significant advancement in medication-assisted treatment is now more widely available. Two long-acting injectable forms of buprenorphine — Sublocade and Brixadi — are being added to treatment programs in the Addiction Outreach Clinic network based in Youngstown in Ohio and with satellite offices in Pennsylvania. The expansion offers patients a once-monthly alternative to daily sublingual medication. 

While residents in either the Buckeye State and the Keystone State have a wide range of options for detox and reducing withdrawal symptoms, the main options have traditionally been methadone and buprenorphine. Now, the availability of new prescriptions expands treatment options for folks navigating opioid detox and long-term recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Works

Buprenorphine has been a cornerstone of evidence-based medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder for more than two decades. As a partial opioid agonist, it binds to the same receptors in the brain that opioids target, but does so in a controlled, limited way. The result: it reduces cravings and blunts withdrawal symptoms without producing the euphoric effects associated with opioid misuse.

This mechanism is what makes buprenorphine one of the most effective tools available for opioid detox and long-term recovery. Unlike going “cold turkey,” which carries serious medical risks, MAT supports the nervous system through stabilization rather than sudden stops.

Enter Sublocade and Brixadi

Until recently, most patients receiving buprenorphine-based MAT took it daily as a sublingual film or tablet, which many know by the brand name Suboxone. Sublocade and Brixadi represent the next generation of this same medication.

Both features extended-release, injectable formulations of buprenorphine administered just beneath the skin and typically in the abdomen by a healthcare provider once per month. After injection, the medication absorbs gradually into the bloodstream for stable and consistent levels for the full 30 days.

The two medications differ slightly in formulation and dosing options, but both deliver the same core outcome: uninterrupted buprenorphine coverage across the entire month. A prescribing provider determines which formulation is appropriate based on your treatment history, current dose stability, and individual clinical factors.

Monthly Injections Support Opioid Detox and Recovery

One persistent challenges remains the daily reality of managing medication. Missed doses create fluctuations in buprenorphine levels, which can trigger cravings or mild withdrawal symptoms, increasing the risk of relapse.

Monthly injectables eliminate that daily variable entirely. Once a clinician administers the injection, the medication works without pill organizers, pharmacy pickups or daily reminders. For patients with demanding schedules, unstable housing or significant anxiety, this can meaningfully reduce stress in early recovery.

Researchers agree. Studies on long-acting injectable buprenorphine have demonstrated improved treatment retention compared to daily oral formulations. Staying in treatment longer remains among the strongest predictors of recovery from opioid use disorder.

Understanding Buprenorphine in Opioid Detox

Buprenorphine is FDA-approved for both the acute phase of opioid detox and for ongoing maintenance treatment. During detox, it typically starts when a patient is in mild-to-moderate withdrawal and then progresses to a stable dose. Once stabilized on daily buprenorphine, a patient might transition to a monthly injectable formulation.

Injectable buprenorphine isn’t a first-day detox medication. It’s a maintenance tool used after initial stabilization. The detox phase itself, particularly for patients with polysubstance use involving alcohol or benzodiazepines, still requires medically supervised management before MAT begins.

Levels of Detox Care Explained

Not everyone needs the same level of medical support during detox. The American Society of Addiction Medicine outlines a framework for matching patients to appropriate care:

• Level 4 (Medically-Managed Intensive Inpatient) is the highest level of care, appropriate for patients at risk of severe withdrawal, including alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence, where seizures or delirium tremens are possible.

• Level 3.7 provides 24-hour nursing oversight for patients who need medical monitoring but aren’t at immediate risk of severe complications.

• Level 3.2 offers structured residential care with clinical support for patients who are medically stable but need intensive psychosocial support.

Monthly injectable buprenorphine is typically introduced at lower levels of care once a patient has been medically stabilized and starts with oral buprenorphine.

MAT Nearby

If you or a family member is considering opioid detox, the first step is identifying a program equipped to provide medically supervised care and appropriate MAT. 

Whether in Ohio, Pennsylvania or elsewhere, Sublocade and Brixadi are available. Call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) to speak with an expert or browse our directory to find medically supervised detox programs and medication-assisted treatment options in your area.