Quick answer
Suboxone is the brand name for buprenorphine plus naloxone, an FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder. Within 30 miles of Scranton, the SAMHSA locator lists 21 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine and 3 federally certified opioid treatment programs. Here is how Suboxone treatment works and how to start.
Published: 2026-10-24 Updated: 2026-10-24
Suboxone Treatment in Scranton, PA
Suboxone — buprenorphine plus naloxone — is one of the three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, and it is the one most people can start without visiting a methadone clinic every day. It quiets withdrawal and cravings, lets you think clearly again, and lowers the risk of dying from an overdose. Around Scranton, 21 facilities within 30 miles prescribe it. This page explains how treatment works and how to get a first appointment.
How does Suboxone treatment work in Scranton?
It depends on what you need around the medication. If you want the fewest appointments, an office-based buprenorphine prescriber is the usual path — a prescription you fill at a pharmacy, plus periodic check-ins. If you want structure and group support in the same place, an outpatient program that prescribes buprenorphine and offers counseling combines both. If you have used long-acting opioids heavily, a certified opioid treatment program can manage a more supervised start.
According to NIDA, medications for opioid use disorder reduce the risk of overdose death, yet fewer than 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder receive them. SAMHSA describes the approach as medication combined with counseling and behavioral therapies — a whole-patient model, not a substitute drug swap.
The treatment sequence is usually:
- An intake visit — medical history, substance use history, and a plan.
- A first dose taken in mild-to-moderate withdrawal, so buprenorphine can occupy receptors without triggering sudden, severe withdrawal.
- Stabilization — dose adjustments over the first weeks.
- Counseling and recovery supports layered in while the medication does its work.
Where to find a Suboxone prescriber near Scranton
The SAMHSA treatment locator lists 30 substance use facilities within 30 miles of Scranton:
- 21 that prescribe buprenorphine
- 3 federally certified opioid treatment programs (methadone)
- 17 that prescribe naltrexone
- 25 offering outpatient services, 7 with detoxification, and 9 with residential programs
Publicly funded assessment and referral run through the Lackawanna and Susquehanna County Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs at 570-963-6820. Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm openings by phone before you drive anywhere.
The local picture in numbers
CDC's provisional county-level data count 48 drug overdose deaths in Lackawanna County in the 12 months ending December 2025, down from 55 the year before. Medication is the most direct response to that number: buprenorphine treatment lowers overdose risk, and the supply in this region keeps proving lethal to people who return to opioids without it.
Paying for Suboxone
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid, and Medical Assistance covers medication for opioid use disorder as medically necessary treatment. Physical HealthChoices plans in the Northeast region include AmeriHealth Caritas Northeast, Geisinger Health Plan, Jefferson Health Plans EverWell, and UPMC for You. For Medicaid members in Lackawanna County, behavioral health and drug and alcohol benefits are managed by Community Care Behavioral Health (member services: 1-866-668-4696; 24/7 crisis: 1-833-822-3010). The statewide PA Get Help Now line at 1-800-662-4357 helps uninsured residents find publicly funded care.
How to start today
- In a medical emergency, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a crisis, call or text 988, or reach the Scranton Counseling Center crisis line at 570-348-6100.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through medication options with a treatment specialist, or use this form:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.
- Search findtreatment.gov from a Scranton ZIP code and filter for buprenorphine, or call the county office at 570-963-6820.
- Ask each prescriber three things: when is the earliest appointment, do they accept your insurance, and will the first dose be observed or taken at home.
Suboxone is not a lesser treatment or a crutch — it is the treatment with the strongest evidence behind it, and 21 facilities around Scranton can prescribe it.
Other Suboxone treatment in Pennsylvania: Suboxone treatment in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Erie, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Reading, Pennsylvania, Suboxone treatment in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Last updated: Sat Oct 24 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
What is Suboxone and how does it work?
Suboxone sublingual film combines buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that eases withdrawal and cravings, with naloxone, which is inactive when taken as directed. It is FDA-approved for opioid dependence as part of a treatment plan that includes counseling, and it is taken once a day dissolved under the tongue.
How many Suboxone prescribers are near Scranton?
Within 30 miles of Scranton, the SAMHSA locator lists 21 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine, out of 30 substance use treatment facilities. Many primary care and outpatient clinics prescribe it as well, and counts change as programs open and close.
Can I start Suboxone while I am still in withdrawal?
Yes — that is the standard protocol. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist, so the first dose is taken after moderate withdrawal has begun, not while other full agonist opioids are still on board. The prescriber you choose will walk you through timing; many Scranton-area clinics can see new patients within days.
Does Medical Assistance cover Suboxone in Pennsylvania?
Yes, for eligible members. Medical Assistance covers medication for opioid use disorder as medically necessary treatment. Northeast-region Physical HealthChoices plans include AmeriHealth Caritas Northeast, Geisinger Health Plan, Jefferson Health Plans EverWell, and UPMC for You, and Community Care Behavioral Health manages Lackawanna County's behavioral health benefits.
How long do people stay on Suboxone?
There is no fixed end date. Opioid use disorder is treated as a chronic condition, and research consistently finds lower overdose risk while people stay on medication. Length of treatment is a decision you make with your prescriber, not a program rule.