Suboxone is a prescription medication used in the treatment of opioid dependence and addiction. It is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it activates the opioid receptors in the brain but with less intensity compared to full opioid agonists like heroin or oxycodone. This helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid dependence. Buprenorphine also has a ceiling effect, meaning that beyond a certain dose, increasing the dosage does not produce stronger effects, which can help in reducing the risk of overdose.