Suboxone Doctor in Mill Valley, CA | Recovery Without Walls
Advanced Pharmacology to Alleviate Addiction and Pain
At Recovery Without Walls (RWW) in Mill Valley, CA, we specialize in the use of buprenorphine/Suboxone® for both addiction and chronic pain. Under the guidance of our Director of Recovery Medicine, Dr. Howard Kornfeld, we provide compassionate, integrative care that bridges science, medicine, and holistic healing.
Dr. Kornfeld has been a pioneer in the use of Suboxone in the United States since the 1990s, introducing innovative treatment strategies that are now widely adopted across addiction medicine and pain management. Today, RWW continues his mission of combining advanced pharmacology with personalized care to help patients move toward lasting recovery and improved quality of life.
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Why Suboxone Matters in the Opioid Crisis
The opioid epidemic has touched nearly every community in the United States. Traditional prescription pain medications such as Vicodin, OxyContin, and fentanyl can bring temporary relief, but they also carry high risks of overdose, dependency, and relapse.
Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) offers a safer, more sustainable path. Unlike full opioid agonists, buprenorphine is a partial agonist at the brain’s opioid receptors. This means it activates the receptor enough to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but not enough to create the intense euphoria or respiratory depression that drive misuse and fatal overdoses.
In summary, Suboxone:
- Reduces opioid cravings and withdrawal.
- Provides effective pain relief for many patients.
- Has a much lower risk of overdose compared to other opioids.
- Supports long-term stability when combined with behavioral therapy and comprehensive care.
How Does Buprenorphine/Suboxone Work?
Think of your brain’s opioid receptor like a chair. A full opioid like heroin or oxycodone sits completely in the chair, fully activating it, leading to euphoria, dependence, and high overdose risk. Buprenorphine only “half sits” in the chair, and can stabilize the receptor without overstimulation.
For patients with opioid use disorder, this partial activation is enough to relieve cravings, prevent withdrawal, and create a protective “ceiling effect” that dramatically lowers overdose risk.
For patients with chronic pain, Suboxone provides sustained pain relief with fewer side effects and less disruption of daily life than traditional opioids.
At Recovery Without Walls, we have found that patients prescribed buprenorphine often experience improved function, reduced side effects, and a renewed ability to participate in meaningful life activities.
Dr. Howard Kornfeld: A Pioneer in Suboxone Treatment
Howard Kornfeld, MD is recognized nationally as a leader in addiction medicine and pain management.
Dr. Kornfeld first recognized the potential of buprenorphine in the 1990s and began publishing articles that shaped its clinical use in the United States. As Director of the Pain Management and Functional Restoration Clinic at Alameda County Medical Center, he helped introduce buprenorphine to Oakland’s premier trauma center—training and mentoring physicians who went on to expand its use in California’s emergency departments in the midst of the overdose epidemic.
Beyond Suboxone, Dr. Kornfeld is widely regarded as a pioneer in the treatment of, substance use disorder, opioid dependence, a more compassionate detoxification process and in embracing integrative approaches to care in inpatient and outpatient settings. He founded Recovery Without Walls over twenty years ago, creating an outpatient model that blends medication-assisted treatment, psychotherapy, and holistic health practices.
Today, patients come to Mill Valley from across the Bay Area and beyond to receive his expert, personalized care.
Our Approach: Comprehensive, Compassionate Care
At Recovery Without Walls, Suboxone is never a stand-alone treatment. We combine advanced pharmacology with behavioral, emotional, and lifestyle support to create truly comprehensive care.
What You Can Expect
This approach allows patients to move beyond survival into true recovery and wholeness—restoring not only physical health but also emotional balance and spiritual connection.
Suboxone for Pain Management
While Suboxone is most commonly known for treating opioid use disorder, Dr. Kornfeld has been at the forefront of using buprenorphine for chronic pain management.
For patients who do not respond well to other opioids, or who are at high risk for dependency, buprenorphine offers a powerful alternative. It reduces pain while minimizing sedation, cognitive impairment, and other side effects. Many patients find they can return to work, hobbies, and family life without the cycle of highs and lows associated with traditional painkillers.
This innovative use of Suboxone reflects Dr. Kornfeld’s lifelong mission: bringing safer, more effective solutions to people living with complex pain and addiction challenges.
Who We Treat
You may be a good candidate for Suboxone treatment at Recovery Without Walls if you:
Our clinic welcomes patients from across the Bay Area and Northern California, as well as those willing to travel for expert, individualized treatment and addiction recovery.
Begin Your Recovery Without Walls
At Recovery Without Walls, you are never reduced to a diagnosis or a label. We see the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and craft a treatment program that respects your individuality and supports long-term healing.
Whether you are facing opioid addiction, chronic pain, or both, Suboxone treatment under the guidance of Dr. Howard Kornfeld offers a proven, compassionate path forward.
📍 Located in Mill Valley, CA, serving the Bay Area and beyond.
📞 Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and take the first step toward recovery and renewal.
Serving San Francisco, the Bay Area, and beyond
Telehealth available for select services
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to take Suboxone forever?
Not necessarily. Many addiction treatment or pain patients use Suboxone long-term, but others taper off successfully. We work with you to set goals and create a safe, personalized timeline, schedule therapy sessions for emotional support if needed, and introduce guardrails for relapse prevention.
Is Suboxone safe?
Yes. Compared to full opioids, Suboxone has a much wider safety margin. It is unlikely to cause a fatal overdose due to its ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
Can Suboxone really help with pain?
Absolutely. While originally developed for addiction, Suboxone has been shown to be an effective painkiller, particularly for patients with high opioid sensitivity or dependence risk.
Do you offer online or telehealth appointments?
Yes, we offer secure online treatment for medication management and counseling, in accordance with HIPAA regulations. An initial in-person assessment is required.