How does suboxone block opiates?

Buprenorphine helps: Buprenorphine (suboxone) is used as a medication for detoxification and/or maintenance for opiate addiction. It works by binding to the opiate receptors, providing partial stimulation to these receptors, but not causing a high. Buprenorphine also blocks other opiate medications from acting on the receptor, so the addict is not able to get high while taking this medication. Mutual support helps.

Blocks receptor: Suboxone attaches to and blocks the opioid receptor so that other opioids cannot reach or effect the receptor.

For Opiate Addiction: Suboxone contains Buprenorphine plus a short acting opiate blocker called naloxone. Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic partial opiate agonist. That means, it has very unique properties compared with other opiates like hydrocodone and oxycodone. Buprenorphine binds to the opiate receptors more tightly than other opiates, so in effect, other opiates are blocked by the buprenorphine.