Posted on Jun 26, 2023
Most residential treatment centers don’t offer key addiction medication to teens, OHSU study...
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There’s only one drug approved by the FDA to treat opioid dependence in teens — and most adolescent treatment facilities don’t offer it.
That’s according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University, which found that only a quarter of the country’s residential treatment facilities offered buprenorphine to teens.
The drug activates the same receptors as opioids such as fentanyl and heroin, but doesn’t produce the same intensity of euphoria.
“It gives the brain an opportunity to heal,” said Caroline King, who led the study as a medical student at OHSU. “It decreases cravings for drugs and allows your brain to kind of put itself back together again while you’re in recovery.”
Buprenorphine is approved for patients age 16 and older, and is typically used for teens with moderate to severe opioid use disorder.
That’s according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University, which found that only a quarter of the country’s residential treatment facilities offered buprenorphine to teens.
The drug activates the same receptors as opioids such as fentanyl and heroin, but doesn’t produce the same intensity of euphoria.
“It gives the brain an opportunity to heal,” said Caroline King, who led the study as a medical student at OHSU. “It decreases cravings for drugs and allows your brain to kind of put itself back together again while you’re in recovery.”
Buprenorphine is approved for patients age 16 and older, and is typically used for teens with moderate to severe opioid use disorder.
Most residential treatment centers don’t offer key addiction medication to teens, OHSU study...
Posted from opb.org
Drugs
Substance Use
Pharmaceuticals
Children
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 2
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There are lots of meds, the issues are finding care and then finding someone who cares enough to look for the right medication. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“We heard things that were really blatantly untrue, like that it soaks into your bones and that it’s more dangerous than fentanyl,” she said. “Some people would say, ‘I’m not a doctor, but I would never put my child on this.’”
King said she hopes the study will lead to better regulation of these centers. Pediatricians and family medicine doctors working more closely with treatment centers could also lead to better treatment for teens, she added.
“Any parent or family member that is calling a center in the middle of a crisis should be able to call and know that if their loved one goes there, they will receive evidence-based care,” she said. “That is not currently something that can happen, which is an incredible shame.”"
..."“We heard things that were really blatantly untrue, like that it soaks into your bones and that it’s more dangerous than fentanyl,” she said. “Some people would say, ‘I’m not a doctor, but I would never put my child on this.’”
King said she hopes the study will lead to better regulation of these centers. Pediatricians and family medicine doctors working more closely with treatment centers could also lead to better treatment for teens, she added.
“Any parent or family member that is calling a center in the middle of a crisis should be able to call and know that if their loved one goes there, they will receive evidence-based care,” she said. “That is not currently something that can happen, which is an incredible shame.”"
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