Study finds modest rise in youth opioid medication use but declining six-month retention

Researchers examined Medicaid and insurance claims for Americans aged 13 to 25 diagnosed with opioid use disorder between 2016 and 2023. The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, aimed to assess how many young patients start and stay on medication-assisted treatment such as buprenorphine or methadone.

The data show a small increase in the proportion of youths who began medication after the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a 2016 policy urging clinicians to offer these drugs. However, the rise was modest and the overall share of diagnosed patients receiving medication remains low.

More concerning, the study found that the number of young people who remained on treatment for at least six months either stayed flat or fell during the period. Retention rates, already low, may have actually decreased despite the slight uptick in initiation.

Experts quoted in the paper note that while the policy shift has led to some positive changes, the lack of sustained treatment poses a serious challenge for addressing opioid use disorder among adolescents and young adults.