Quick answer
Suboxone is buprenorphine plus naloxone, a once-daily medication for opioid use disorder that a doctor, clinic, or telehealth provider can prescribe. Within 30 miles of Princeton, FindTreatment.gov lists 13 facilities using buprenorphine, and Southern Highlands runs Mercer County's designated behavioral health center.
Published: 2026-10-27 Updated: 2026-10-27
Princeton is the seat of Mercer County, in the southern coalfields, and it holds more treatment capacity than its size suggests: a community behavioral health provider with two local sites and a hospital with a psychiatric unit. For opioid use disorder, that means buprenorphine - the medication in Suboxone - can be started and maintained without leaving the county.
How do you start Suboxone in Princeton?
It depends on your history and how much structure you need. If you can keep regular appointments and hold on to your medication safely, a clinic visit plus a pharmacy is often enough to begin. If you have used fentanyl recently - it was in half of Mercer County's 2024 overdose deaths - the first dose has to be timed to avoid precipitated withdrawal, and some prescribers will start you low. If withdrawal feels unsafe at home, Southern Highlands and the hospital give you supervised options.
How buprenorphine works
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist: it fills the same receptors as fentanyl and heroin, eases withdrawal and cravings, and levels off rather than producing a full high. Naloxone is included to deter injection. NIDA notes that medication treatment is linked to a lower risk of overdose death, and SAMHSA lists buprenorphine as a standard option.
It is taken daily. Missing doses can bring withdrawal back, so settle refills early, and ask for the generic form if the brand price is a problem.
Mercer County in numbers
The West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy reports 44 overdose deaths in Mercer County in 2024, down from 92 in 2023 - a steep one-year drop. Fentanyl and unspecified other drugs each appeared in 50% of those deaths, methamphetamine in 25%, and the county's population is about 57,524. Opioid prescription dispensing fell 66.1% between 2014 and 2024.
Meanwhile buprenorphine ranks among the county's five most-dispensed medications, which says something encouraging: treatment here is not rare or hidden. County treatment infrastructure backs that up. Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center is Mercer County's designated Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, with a Princeton clinic and a separate substance use services site. WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital adds a 203-bed acute hospital and a 64-bed psychiatric hospital.
Suboxone providers within 30 miles
An October 2026 FindTreatment.gov pull around Princeton lists 16 substance use treatment facilities:
- 13 using buprenorphine and 14 using naltrexone
- 3 running intensive outpatient programs and 3 with residential care
- 6 offering detoxification and 1 federally-certified opioid treatment program
- 15 offering telemedicine and 14 accepting Medicaid
Buprenorphine does not require an opioid treatment program, so a primary care visit or telehealth can be the starting point. Counts change as programs open and close; confirm by phone and search from ZIP code 24740.
Paying for Suboxone
West Virginia Medicaid covers medication-assisted treatment, and the state's buprenorphine coverage policy spells out the documentation prescribers need. West Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2014, so most adults who qualify can enroll. Within the radius, 14 facilities accept Medicaid and 10 use a sliding fee scale.
For people without coverage, Southern Highlands' CCBHC status means it must serve anyone who requests care regardless of ability to pay. HELP4WV at 1-844-435-7498 offers free, confidential referrals 24 hours a day.
How to start today
- Call 911 for a medical emergency and give naloxone if someone is overdosing. For a crisis, call or text 988, or use Southern Highlands' 24/7 crisis line.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to compare Suboxone and the other medication options with a 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.
- Bring your medication list and be specific about your last use - it decides your induction plan.
- Ask about counseling, because medication plus therapy holds better than either alone.
Mercer County's overdose count fell by more than half in a single year. The medication that helps is already dispensed here; the next step is a phone call.
Learn more: drug and alcohol rehab in Princeton, opioid treatment and MAT in Princeton, and medication for opioid use disorder.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above.
Other Suboxone treatment in West Virginia: Suboxone treatment in Beckley, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Bluefield, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Buckhannon, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Charleston, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Elkins, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Fairmont, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Huntington, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Logan, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Morgantown, West Virginia, Suboxone treatment in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Last updated: Tue Oct 27 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Who prescribes Suboxone in Princeton?
Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, Mercer County's designated Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center, offers medication for opioid use disorder at its Princeton locations. Within 30 miles of Princeton, an October 2026 FindTreatment.gov pull lists 13 facilities using buprenorphine, several of them in town or in nearby Bluefield.
Can I start buprenorphine if I have been using fentanyl?
Yes, with correct timing. Fentanyl appeared in 50% of Mercer County's 2024 overdose deaths, and because it lingers unevenly, a standard first dose too soon can cause precipitated withdrawal. Some prescribers use a lower initial dose or a longer wait. Report your last use honestly so the plan is safe.
What do Mercer County's overdose numbers look like?
The West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy reports 44 overdose deaths in Mercer County in 2024, down sharply from 92 in 2023, counted by county of occurrence. Fentanyl and unspecified other drugs each appeared in 50% of those deaths, and methamphetamine in 25%. Buprenorphine is among the county's five most-dispensed medications.
Does West Virginia Medicaid cover Suboxone in Princeton?
Yes. West Virginia Medicaid covers medication-assisted treatment, and the state maintains a buprenorphine coverage policy. West Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2014. Of the facilities in the Princeton radius, 14 report accepting Medicaid and 10 report a sliding fee scale; confirm your plan's prior-authorization rules first.
Is there hospital care nearby if I need more than an office visit?
Yes. WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital operates a 203-bed acute care hospital and a 64-bed psychiatric hospital in Princeton. Southern Highlands also runs a 24/7 crisis line. Call 911 for a medical emergency and 988 for a mental health or substance use crisis.