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Most young people covered by Medicaid who have opioid use disorder don’t make it very far into medication treatment. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that only one in six received medication for the condition and the share still receiving it six months later was much smaller.
What Happens After an Opioid Use Disorder Diagnosis?
The researchers tracked eight years of data for 229,847 Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder. The figures show how quickly participation dropped as treatment progressed.
Within 14 days of diagnosis, 50.7% had started treatment. By the next stage, the proportion had fallen to 32.9%. Those young people attended at least two additional treatment sessions within the following 34 days, meeting the study’s definition of engagement.
Medication reached fewer people still because among those who engaged in treatment 46.3% began taking medication. Providers most often used buprenorphine, methadone or extended-release naltrexone.
The researchers also found that age and race played a role in how young people moved through treatment. Younger adolescents and racially minoritized youth were less likely to advance from one stage to the next, which point to gaps in access that may leave some young people without continued care.
Why Treatment Can Be Hard to Maintain
Getting help for opioid use disorder involves more than finding a provider. Young people may need permission to access services, a reliable way to get to appointments and a clinician who understands addiction in adolescents. Not every community has those resources readily available.
Cost and transportation can complicate regular visits. So can stigma or conflict at home. Even when someone wants treatment, finding a provider who offers medication for opioid use disorder may take time.
Life changes can disrupt care as well. Young people who move between households or switch healthcare systems may lose contact with their treatment team. If providers don’t coordinate with one another, restarting care can become another hurdle.
Medication plays an important role in treating opioid use disorder and can lower overdose risk. Still, a young person who starts treatment may not continue it. The study’s numbers show a sharp drop between the first appointment and longer-term medication use.
Treatment services need to account for what happens between visits. Faster appointments may help people get started before they disengage. Better coordination between pediatricians and addiction specialists could prevent gaps when care moves from one provider to another. Transportation assistance and follow-up after missed appointments may also help young people stay connected.
Expanding Opioid Treatment Options for Youth
Overdoses and poisonings have become a leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents. Fentanyl in the drug supply adds another layer of risk for people who use opioids.
The challenge isn’t simply getting young people into treatment once, and then calling it a day. They need access to care they can continue even when challenges such as family circumstances, transportation or changes in providers make that more difficult.
Rehabs.org provides a variety of information about addiction treatment options including medication-supported care and different levels of treatment. Young people and their families can use these resources to explore available services. Call
800-914-7089
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to get in contact with a treatment specialist today.
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