If you’re living with co-occurring mental health and opioid use disorders, combining sublocade treatment with behavioral therapy can transform your recovery journey. As an extended-release buprenorphine injection, Sublocade helps you maintain stable medication levels over the month, reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings while counseling and psychosocial support address underlying challenges. In this guide you’ll learn how this integrated MAT approach supports both your mental health and opioid recovery.
Understand Sublocade benefits
Mechanism of action
Sublocade is a monthly subcutaneous injection of extended-release buprenorphine that provides steady opioid receptor activity for 28 days [1]. By avoiding the peaks and troughs associated with daily oral dosing, you experience more consistent relief from withdrawal and reduced cravings. That stability helps you focus on therapy and other recovery activities without worrying about medication timing.
Dosage and administration
- Same-day start option even if you’re new to buprenorphine. A test dose of oral buprenorphine confirms tolerability before the first injection [1].
- Standard initiation involves a monthly injection of 300 mg for two months, then 100–300 mg monthly thereafter.
- Rapid induction protocol lets you receive a second injection as early as one week after the first to build up medication levels faster.
All injections are administered by a healthcare provider through the Sublocade REMS program to ensure proper monitoring and reduce risk.
Explore behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT helps you identify and challenge thought patterns that contribute to substance use. By practicing new coping strategies, you learn to manage triggers—such as stress or negative emotions—without turning to opioids. When paired with Sublocade, CBT supports long-term relapse prevention and improved mental health.
Individual counseling options
One-on-one counseling lets you explore personal issues—trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD—that often co-occur with opioid use disorder. Working with a therapist, you can develop personalized coping skills and emotional regulation techniques. Many programs combine Sublocade with suboxone program with mental health therapy or buprenorphine treatment and counseling services to create a truly integrated dual diagnosis approach.
Group and psychosocial support
Group therapy and peer support foster connection and accountability. Sharing experiences with others facing similar challenges reduces isolation and stigma. Weekly manual-guided drug counseling—required in clinical trials—reinforces medication adherence and healthy behaviors [2].
Review clinical evidence
Key efficacy outcomes
Clinical trials demonstrate that combining Sublocade with behavioral therapy yields superior outcomes compared to counseling alone.
| Study | Regimen | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 24-week placebo-controlled trial | Monthly SUBLOCADE + counseling vs placebo + counseling | 28% vs 2% treatment success (free of illicit opioids ≥ 80% of weeks) [1] |
| Study 13-0001 (N=504) | BUP-XR 300/300 mg & 300/100 mg + weekly counseling vs placebo | ~42% vs 5% opioid abstinence (P < 0.0001) [3] |
| Health-related quality study | Monthly BUP-XR + counseling vs placebo + counseling | Significant gains in EQ-5D-5L and SF-36v2 physical scores [2] |
| Patient satisfaction at week 25 | BUP-XR vs placebo | 88% vs 46% satisfaction with treatment [2] |
| Employment outcomes | BUP-XR + counseling vs placebo + counseling | +10% vs –12.6% change in employment rates over 24 weeks [2] |
Safety and tolerability
In clinical trials injection site reactions were mostly mild or moderate. No overdose or respiratory depression events were reported. Treatment is not recommended for women of childbearing potential not using contraception due to teratogenic risk [3]. Weekly monitoring ensures you stay safe and comfortable.
Integrate MAT services
Collaborative care model
Integrated MAT care brings together prescribers, therapists, case managers and peer supporters to address both opioid use and mental health. At Ascend Health you benefit from coordinated medication management and evidence-based therapies, ensuring that your treatment plan reflects your unique needs, whether you’re managing anxiety, depression or trauma-related symptoms.
Coordinating treatment teams
Whether you attend an outpatient dual diagnosis MAT program or a dual diagnosis MAT center, communication among your care providers is vital. Regular team meetings review your progress, adjust medication dosages and tailor therapy protocols. This seamless coordination supports your long-term recovery and reduces gaps in care.
Manage your treatment
Setting recovery goals
Work with your care team to define specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) goals. Examples include:
- Achieve 90 days of opioid-free weeks
- Complete 12 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy
- Reduce PHQ-9 depression score by 5 points
Tracking your progress
Use validated scales and regular check-ins to monitor withdrawal (COWS), cravings (visual analog scale) and mental health symptoms (PHQ-9, GAD-7). Keeping a recovery journal or digital tracker helps you and your team spot trends and intervene early if challenges arise.
Adjusting therapy plans
Based on your progress data, your provider may adjust injection dose, modify counseling frequency or introduce complementary services such as trauma-informed care [4] or psychiatric support [5].
Choose integrated provider
Ascend Health programs
Ascend Health leads in comprehensive MAT and therapy integration, offering:
- Sublocade plus individualized drug counseling
- Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR options
- Co-occurring disorders treatment, including depression and addiction MAT program and suboxone and trauma therapy integration
- Ongoing case management and peer support
Telehealth and outpatient
If you prefer remote care or need flexible scheduling, Ascend Health’s telehealth dual diagnosis treatment and outpatient suboxone program for anxiety let you access MAT plus therapy from home. Regular virtual visits keep you connected and accountable.
Support service options
Beyond medication and therapy, you can tap into wraparound supports:
- Vocational counseling and employment services
- Housing assistance and social work
- Family therapy and peer recovery groups
Ask about the comprehensive MAT and mental health care pathways that align with your long-term goals.
Combining sublocade treatment with behavioral therapy gives you a powerful, evidence-based platform for sustained recovery. With stable monthly injections, tailored counseling and a coordinated care team, you’re equipped to address both the physical and psychological facets of opioid use disorder. Reach out to Ascend Health to explore how integrated MAT services can support your journey to wellness.
