I can tell you everything u need to know, because i am on it and have been for a while. He does have to want to be sober or it won't work. I am a recovering heroin addict, i was on heroin for years untill it got to the point that i realized i had to quit. U can still get high when taking suboxone but u have to wait about 4 to 5 hours. I know that because i fell off the band wagon and would wait to shoot my dope. I wouldn't tell him that info though, thats for u to know! I am a 30 yr old daddy so i can relate. I am on 3- 8mg tabs a day and in a program, thats really the only way. I don't pay a dime though, there are programs that are funded. The program is about a year long, maybe a lil longer. I relapsed so i have started over. So please ask away, i can answer any questions u have! Well hopefully, at least with suboxone i can. Oh and suboxone is addictive, it's part opiod. But doctors can tapper him down after a year of success! It works and works great! I am living proof, and lucky to be alive! He may have to hit rock bottom like i did to get treatment. Whatever u do, DO NOT ENABLE HIM TO GET HIGH, u will have to stop (if u are an enabler)! Believe me i know how hard that can be, the sickness hurts us all. Hope i can help u, help him!!!! Oh and he can not take klonopin with suboxone, thats a deadly combination remember that please, and also methadone as well!!