Personal and Socioeconomic Determinants in Medication-assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a pediatric and adolescent problem as most young adults (aged <25 years) in treatment programs report initiating use before 25 years of age, and there are lifelong impacts from early substance use necessitating early screening for opioid use and subsequent treatment. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a highly effective intervention for OUD, and there is strong evidence for its use with adolescents; however, most adolescents with OUD are unable to access MAT or remain in MAT long term to achieve substantial recovery. Using case examples drawn from a pediatric and adolescent physician's experiences proving MAT to adolescents and young adults (ages 16–24 years), this article explores the personal and socioeconomic determinants in MAT of OUD in adolescents and young adults and provides suggestions for advocacy areas and resources to improve MAT with this population.