Stop Signs
What are stop signs?
If you’ve been looking into treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), you may have seen the term “stop signs.” In this context, the term can refer to a few different medications, such as Suboxone® (important safety information) and oxymorphone.
Stop sign is a street name for Suboxone, a combination buprenorphine-naloxone medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Generic Suboxone sublingual tablets are sometimes reddish-orange and in the shape of a hexagon, which explains how the Suboxone street name came about. The tablets look a bit like stop signs for drivers.
You may also hear people refer to Suboxone as “stops” in reference to the shape of some versions of the tablets. Keep in mind that Suboxone is also available as a sublingual film, but the film strips are rectangular instead of hexagonal.
Association with other drugs
The term “stop signs” is also used as a street name for other medications, like oxymorphone1. Much like Suboxone, oxymorphone is available as red or orange hexagonal tablets with a shape that resembles stop signs.
Why do drugs have street names?
People may use street names for drugs to make it harder for outsiders—like law enforcement officers, other authority figures, or friends and family—to recognize the signs of drug use. Using these slang terms also fosters a sense of shared identity for people who use the drugs.
It’s important to note that drug street names can vary by region. A person living in one area might call Suboxone stop signs, while someone in another region might use a different street name, such as Subs or Boxes. Slang terms also change over time and can have multiple meanings2.
What to know about taking Suboxone
Suboxone is a controlled substance, so patients looking to treat opioid use disorder need a prescription to begin taking the medication. But there are many barriers to visiting clinicians in person, which can prevent some patients from accessing the care they need.
Getting Suboxone with Ophelia
Ophelia patients can connect with clinicians virtually to determine whether they’re candidates for a Suboxone prescription. If they qualify, we’ll send the prescription to a local pharmacy for the patient to pick up.
Our patients have access to their dedicated care team through online visits during treatment. This includes guidance and support when taking Suboxone to ensure it’s being used properly and being administered in the proper dose. Prescription strength will vary depending on the form of the medication and personal factors, like body composition and history of opioid use.
How to take Suboxone
Suboxone comes in tablets and sublingual films that are placed under the tongue. Both forms need to dissolve in the mouth.
To take Suboxone, place the tablet or film strip under your tongue or against your cheek. Wait until the medication is completely dissolved, and do not chew or swallow it. This should take between 10 and 15 minutes.
Don’t eat, drink, smoke, or vape anything for 15 minutes before taking the medication, since this can interfere with absorption. Wait to eat or drink for another 15 minutes after taking the medication so it can absorb into your system.
Learn more
Other buprenorphine-related terms
- Buprenorphine: A partial opioid agonist used to treat opioid addiction and pain.
- Bupe: A street name for buprenorphine
- Suboxone: A drug used as a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) that combines buprenorphine and naloxone, an opioid antagonist.
Other street names for Suboxone
- Oranges: A name that comes from the color of Suboxone and other medications
- Strips: A name that comes from the sublingual film formulation of Suboxone, which comes in small strips
- Subs: A name that comes from a shortened version of Suboxone
Sources
- Common Prescription Narcotic Drugs Street Names. Narcotics.com. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://www.narcotics.com/street-names/common-prescription-narcotic-drugs-street-names-2/
- (26 July 2024). Glossary of Street Names for Drugs. Georgia Addiction Center. Retrieved July 31, 2025, from https://georgiaaddictiontreatmentcenter.com/2024/07/26/drug-street-names/
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