“Youth opioid addiction treatment: Medication access improves but retention lags, study fin” — what this page in the network covers. Only 1 in 4 young people with opioid use disorder receive medications like buprenorphine or naltrexone, and fewer than half stay on them for six months, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Scott Hadland of Mass General for Children, analyzed data from over 2.4 million Medicaid-enrolled youth aged 13 to 22 across 15 states from 2014 to 2019. While the proportion receiving medication rose from 22% to 27% during that period, retention rates remained stagnant at about 45%.
The study highlights stark disparities: youth who were older, male, or lived in rural areas were more likely to receive medication, while Black and Hispanic youth were less likely. The findings underscore the urgent need for pediatricians and family doctors to initiate treatment and connect patients with ongoing care, as untreated opioid addiction can derail education, employment, and health. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.