Hi Echo- As you know I've been on bup for quite awhile now- since about Feb. It's taken me a long time, but I'm starting to get my use under control. For a long time I was using every week on top of the bup, but have been doing better lately. While I'm not completely clean yet, I'm putting together strings of 2-3 weeks at a time without using and feel like I'm getting there.
I'd strongly recommend that your b/f give it a try. I think it's probably especially effective for someone who doesn't have a big habit (as opposed to someone like me). I don't know if any one doc is better than any other; I'm sure there are differences. My doc is great. I began seeing him once a week and now seem him once every two weeks. He has never urine tested me and I have been honest with him about my usage. He believes that as long as I'm showing progress I should continue to stay with bup. My only altenative is meth and I don't want to do that again.
The worst thing that could happen if your b/f tries bup is that it won't work for him and maybe he'd have to switch to meth. I think it's all a matter of motivation. There's a part of me, as much as I hate to admit it, that still loves dope so much and that part of me keeps winning out over the part of me that truly wants to stop. But I am doing better as time goes on. And as I've said before I think a lot of my continued use has to do with boredom, coming from not working. I truly believe if I had something positive going on in my life I'd be able to quit. I mean I do have a lot of positives- a great wife and kids, money is not a problem for me, I live a pretty upper-middle class life despite not working for a year and a half. So I've got a lot going for me. But my self-worth was always so tied to my career and I get really discouraged and down about being unemployed. I had worked in the same field for over 20 years and losing my job was a blow that I haven't recovered from (I don't mean to whine).
Anyway, enough about me. I do think your b/f sounds like an ideal candidate for bup. It's easy, you pick up a script once a month. You can't abuse it cuz it doesn't get you high. And despite the fact that I haven't quit completely I'm using less and less and I believe it has also helped with my depression. I would strongly try to encourage him to give it a try. There's absolutely nothing to lose. At worst, it doesn't work for him and he's exactly where he is now. At best, he's no longer using illicit drugs. And I feel that since he's off H and doing mainly pills that it'll be much more effective for him- provided he's motivated to quit using.
Hope this has been helpful and feel free to ask any other questions.
Marco