An approximated 1 in 100 teenagers ages 12-17 years in the United States have an opioid usage condition (OUD). Less than 5% of teenagers with OUD get buprenorphine or naltrexone, though the treatments are advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), brand-new information reveal.
Teen drug overdose deaths more than doubled in between 2019 and 2021, with the majority of including opioids.
Scott E. Hadland, MD, MPH, with the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Mass General for Children in Boston, and coworkers detailed the degree of the treatment space and barriers to recommending and taking care of youth with OUD in medical care in a research study letter released February 26 in JAMA Pediatrics
Dr Hadland’s group sent by mail 1681 United States pediatricians a study, and the action rate was 43.0%. Scientists consisted of in the sample 474 medical care pediatricians who look after teenagers.
Who Should Treat OUD?
A lot of participants (typical age, 49.5; 74.0% woman) concurred or highly concurred that it is their duty to recognize compound usage conditions (93.9%) and refer clients to treatment (97.4%).
Less concurred or highly concurred that it is their duty to deal with compound usage conditions (20.3%) or recommend medications (12.4%). Less than half of the participants stated they felt ready or really ready to counsel teenagers on opioid usage (48.3%) compared to those comfy therapy on alcohol (87.1%), marijuana (81.7%), and e-cigarette usage (80.1%; P