Street Value Of Suboxone & Black Market Prices

Suboxone is the brand name for a prescription drug used to treat opioid use disorder (also called opioid addiction). It consists of two medications: buprenorphine, which eases opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and naloxone, which blocks the effects of opioids. 

Many people in Ohio receive Suboxone from their healthcare providers. Others buy it on the street, often because they have trouble getting it legally. As with other drugs, the street price of Suboxone varies.

Suboxone Street Value & Black Market Price

Suboxone comes in two formulations: a tablet and a film, both of which dissolve under your tongue. 

According to law enforcement, the average street price of Suboxone is $5 to $20 per tablet or film. 

In most cases, the film costs slightly more than the tablet. Other factors that affect the drug’s price include dosage and location. 

Dosage

Suboxone is available in the following dosages:

• buprenorphine 2 mg/naloxone 0.5 mg
• buprenorphine 4 mg/naloxone 1 mg
• buprenorphine 8 mg/naloxone 2 mg
• buprenorphine 12 mg/naloxone 3 mg
• buprenorphine 16 mg/naloxone 4 mg

In general, the higher the dosage, the higher the price.

Location

Typically, Suboxone costs more in rural areas and less in big cities. That’s because big cities tend to have higher supplies of Suboxone and other street drugs. Higher supplies usually lead to lower prices.

Dangers Of Suboxone Abuse

Suboxone is generally safe when used as prescribed. After evaluating your specific needs, a prescribing physician will tell you exactly how much Suboxone to take and how often to take it.

However, when you buy Suboxone on the street and use it without the guidance of a doctor, you face an increased risk of side effects, overdose, and addiction.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of Suboxone include:

• headache
• stomach pain 
• constipation
• blurry vision
• trouble sleeping

You’re more likely to experience these effects when you use the drug in a manner not prescribed. You may also develop rarer, more serious side effects, such as:

• trouble breathing or swallowing
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• confusion
• hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there)
• itching, rash, or hives
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, eyes, hands, feet, lower legs, or ankles

If you or someone you love experiences these more serious side effects, seek medical help right away.

Overdose

Suboxone poses a much lower risk of overdose than prescription opioid painkillers like oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). 

However, it’s still possible to overdose on Suboxone. You face a higher risk of overdose if you inject the drug or mix it with other substances, especially alcohol and benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepam (Valium). 

You’re also more likely to overdose if you don’t have a history of opioid abuse. That’s because Suboxone is much more potent in people who have never used opioids before.

The most common symptoms of a Suboxone overdose include:

• extreme drowsiness
• nausea and vomiting
• pale, clammy, or bluish skin
• slowed breathing
• slowed heartbeat
• loss of consciousness 

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, call 911 right away. 

When left untreated, a Suboxone overdose can be life-threatening, especially if you bought it on the street. This is because some drug dealers lace Suboxone with fentanyl. 

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It’s been linked to numerous opioid overdose deaths. 

Addiction

If you use Suboxone in a manner not prescribed, you may become addicted to it. The most common symptoms of Suboxone addiction include:

• frequent cravings for Suboxone
• tolerance (needing increasingly higher or more frequent doses to feel the desired effects)
• physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and sweating, when you don’t use Suboxone) 
• loss of motivation
• loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

If you or someone you love shows signs of Suboxone addiction, seek help at a drug abuse treatment program. 

Some of these programs are inpatient, meaning you live at the treatment center. Others are outpatient, meaning you live at home and regularly visit the treatment center. Your doctor can help you determine which option is right for you.

To learn more about Suboxone addiction treatment, please reach out to Ohio Recovery Center. Our board-certified treatment providers offer medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, and other personalized services to help you or your loved one stay sober.