What This Treatment Is

Suboxone combines buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist) with naloxone (an opioid antagonist that deters misuse). It’s FDA-approved for opioid use disorder, delivered as a sublingual film or tablet. When taken as prescribed, it reduces cravings and withdrawal without producing the euphoria associated with opioid misuse. For Calabasas residents, our Suboxone program runs from the Woodland Hills campus — about a 15-minute drive north via US-101.

Why the Buprenorphine/Naloxone Combination

Buprenorphine alone is clinically effective. The naloxone doesn’t do much when the medication is dissolved under the tongue as intended, because naloxone isn’t well absorbed sublingually. But if someone tries to inject Suboxone, the naloxone activates and blocks the buprenorphine effect. That structural deterrent is why the combination exists.

Who Suboxone Is For

Suboxone is appropriate for adults with opioid use disorder — including opioid histories involving prescription pain medications, heroin, or fentanyl. It’s typically prescribed inside a treatment structure that includes counseling and behavioral therapy, per SAMHSA guidance.

Our Care Model: Specialty-Led, Distinct Primary Tracks

Elevated Healing operates separate primary treatment tracks for Mental Health and Substance Use, each led by the appropriate clinical specialty from day one. When both are present, our teams coordinate care across tracks so the full clinical picture is addressed without collapsing treatment into a single generalized program.

This is different from a blended or generalized model. Read more on our Care Model page.

Elevated Healing’s Specialty-Led Approach

Suboxone at Elevated Healing is prescribed by board-certified psychiatric providers with experience in addiction medicine. For Calabasas patients, the induction visit is in person at the Woodland Hills campus — a short drive that’s usually easier to schedule than most in-town appointments once you factor in the small clinic size.

The clinical structure:

  • Initial evaluation and Suboxone induction happen in person at the Woodland Hills campus.
  • Dose is titrated based on cravings, withdrawal, and side effects — typically 8 to 24 mg daily.
  • Follow-up visits move to telehealth once stable, which minimizes commute burden.
  • Concurrent therapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR, or ART) is delivered on-site or via video.
  • Confidentiality is preserved through HIPAA-compliant systems.
Evidence base. Buprenorphine-based MAT significantly reduces overdose mortality and improves retention, per research summarized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Access from Calabasas

Our physical location is at 21250 Califa St, Ste 114, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, about a 15-minute drive from Calabasas via US-101 in normal traffic.

  • From central Calabasas — US-101 East, exit at Winnetka Avenue or De Soto Avenue, then a short drive north.
  • From Hidden Hills or Woodland Hills-adjacent areas — many patients complete the trip in under 15 minutes.
  • From Agoura Hills or Westlake Village — allow about 20–25 minutes via US-101.
  • Telehealth — after your initial in-person assessment, most follow-up psychiatric visits can be done by video across California, reducing travel burden for maintenance and step-down care.

New patients typically complete their initial evaluation in person; ongoing follow-up can be scheduled remotely when clinically appropriate.

Program Levels That Deliver This Care

This service is delivered inside the level of care that matches your clinical need at intake. Level of care can shift over time as treatment progresses.

Partial Hospitalization (PHP)

Structured day program, five days per week, with psychiatric oversight and integrated therapy.

Learn about PHP

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

Three-to-five sessions per week that allow work or school to continue.

Learn about IOP

Outpatient (OP)

Weekly therapy plus regular psychiatric visits — well-suited to step-down maintenance.

Learn about OP

Telehealth Follow-Up

Video visits with the psychiatric provider, available across California for eligible patients.

Learn about telehealth

Insurance, Cost, and Getting Started

Most commercial insurance plans cover suboxone treatment under mental health and substance use disorder benefits, which are subject to federal parity requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Parity means insurers cannot impose stricter limits on behavioral health services than they apply to physical health services — a real legal protection worth knowing you have when you call.

The first step is a conversation with our admissions team. This call is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. During it, we:

  • Verify your insurance benefits within one business day.
  • Confirm what’s covered, what your copay or coinsurance will be, and whether prior authorization applies.
  • Start any required prior authorization on your behalf so you’re not stuck on hold with your insurer.
  • Schedule a clinical evaluation — usually within a few business days of your first call, sooner when the situation is time-sensitive.

If insurance doesn’t cover the service or your plan design doesn’t fit, self-pay options can be discussed. There is no charge to have this conversation. Reach us at (747) 888-3000 or use our insurance verification form.

What Progress Looks Like

Recovery through suboxone treatment is not a straight line, and durable clinical outcomes rarely happen in weeks. Realistic timelines matter here more than optimistic promises. Most patients notice measurable improvement in the first month of consistent treatment — reduced cravings, more stable mood, better sleep, easier engagement with therapy. Substantive behavioral change typically takes root over three to six months.

Progress is reviewed at every clinical visit. We measure it in specifics: frequency of the target behavior, functional recovery in work and relationships, sleep quality, and — where medications are involved — how well the pharmacology is holding cravings and side effects. When something isn’t working, we adjust. That might mean a dose change, a therapy focus shift, or a step up or down in level of care. The plan follows the patient’s clinical picture, not the other way around.

Setbacks are treated as clinical data, not moral failure. If a relapse or symptom flare happens, the team’s job is to understand what led to it and refine the plan. Patients are not discharged for a relapse. Long-term recovery is often what happens after the acute treatment phase ends, and we plan for that from the first visit — through aftercare planning, coordinated hand-offs, and telehealth follow-up available across California.

Confidentiality and HIPAA Protections

Treatment records at Elevated Healing are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and, for substance use records specifically, under 42 CFR Part 2 — a federal regulation providing additional protection for substance use disorder treatment information. That means treatment status and clinical details are not disclosed to family members, employers, or third parties without your written authorization, except in narrowly defined legal circumstances (imminent harm, court order).

Practical protections include HIPAA-compliant scheduling and communication systems, secure insurance verification channels, and billing structured to minimize what appears on statements. Patients with heightened confidentiality concerns can request specific accommodations at intake — arrival timing, check-in flow, telehealth-first scheduling — and our admissions team will confirm what’s available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the drive from Calabasas to campus take for the induction visit?
Approximately 15 minutes via US-101 in normal traffic. From central Calabasas, exit at Winnetka or De Soto northbound. The induction visit itself typically runs one to two hours; follow-up visits are shorter and can often move to telehealth.
Will I feel high on Suboxone?
When taken as prescribed, no. Buprenorphine’s partial-agonist activity produces enough opioid effect to prevent withdrawal and cravings, but not enough for meaningful euphoria at therapeutic doses. Most patients report feeling clear-headed and stable within the first few days.
How long will I need to take Suboxone?
There is no fixed timeline. Some patients use Suboxone for a defined stabilization period; others benefit from long-term maintenance. Duration is a clinical decision made with your psychiatric provider based on your history, response, and goals. Tapering is planned and gradual — never forced.
Can most follow-up visits be done via telehealth?
Yes, for California residents, once induction is complete. This reduces the drive burden significantly. Your provider will confirm what fits your clinical situation and whether an occasional in-person visit is warranted.
Is confidentiality protected given the small community?
Yes. All records are protected under HIPAA. We use HIPAA-compliant communication and scheduling systems and do not disclose treatment status without written authorization.
Does insurance cover Suboxone treatment?
Most commercial insurance plans cover the medication and associated psychiatric visits and therapy. Our admissions team verifies benefits within one business day. Reach us at (747) 888-3000.

If You’re in Crisis

If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, help is available 24/7. You are not alone.

Trusted External Resources

Independent, evidence-based sources on the topics covered on this page:

SAMHSA — Buprenorphine →

Federal public health agency’s overview of buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

FDA — Information About MOUD →

FDA drug information on buprenorphine and other OUD medications.

National Institute on Drug Abuse →

NIH institute publishing research on addiction neuroscience and treatment.

American Psychiatric Association →

Professional society for psychiatrists; source of current guidance.

City of Calabasas →

Municipal community services and public safety resources for Calabasas.

Ready to Talk About Suboxone Treatment?

Our admissions team can walk you through what treatment looks like, verify insurance benefits, and answer questions. Conversations are confidential.

Call us confidentially at (747) 888-3000 — or request a consultation online.

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