Author/Authors :
Bagley, Sarah M. Boston Medical Center - Boston University, Boston, USA , Chavez, Laura Nationwide Children’s Hospital - Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Columbus, USA , Braciszewski, Jordan M. Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research - Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA , Akolsile, Mary Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, USA , Boudreau, Denise M. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, USA , Lapham, Gwen Nationwide Children’s Hospital - Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Columbus, USA , Campbell, Cynthia I. Division of Research - Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, USA , Bart, Gavin University of Minnesota Medical School/Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, USA , Yarborough, Bobbi Jo H. Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, Portland, USA , Samet, Jeffrey H. Boston Medical Center - Boston University, Boston, USA , Saxon, Andrew J. Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education - VA Puget Sound Health Care System/University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA , Rossom, Rebecca C. Health Partners Institute/University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA , Binswanger, Ingrid A. Colorado Permanente Medical Group, -Kaiser Permanente Colorado - The University of Colorado School of Medicine and The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Aurora, USA , Murphy, Mark T. MultiCare Institute for Research and Innovation - MultiCare Health System WA, Tacoma, USA , Glass, Joseph E. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, USA , Bradley, Katharine A. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, USA
Abstract :
Purpose
Little is known about prevalence and treatment of OUD among youth engaged in primary care (PC). Medications are the recommended treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) for adolescents and young adults (youth). This study describes the prevalence of OUD, the prevalence of medication treatment for OUD, and patient characteristics associated with OUD treatment among youth engaged in PC.
Methods
This cross-sectional study includes youth aged 16–25 years engaged in PC. Eligible patients had ≥ 1 PC visit during fiscal years (FY) 2014–2016 in one of 6 health systems across 6 states. Data from electronic health records and insurance claims were used to identify OUD diagnoses, office-based OUD medication treatment, and patient demographic and clinical characteristics in the FY of the first PC visit during the study period. Descriptive analyses were conducted in all youth, and stratified by age (16–17, 18–21, 22–25 years).
Results
Among 303,262 eligible youth, 2131 (0.7%) had a documented OUD diagnosis. The prevalence of OUD increased by ascending age groups. About half of youth with OUD had documented depression or anxiety and one third had co-occurring substance use disorders. Receipt of medication for OUD was lowest among youth 16–17 years old (14%) and highest among those aged 22–25 (39%).
Conclusions
In this study of youth engaged in 6 health systems across 6 states, there was low receipt of medication treatment, and high prevalence of other substance use disorders and mental health disorders. These findings indicate an urgent need to increase medication treatment for OUD and to integrate treatment for other substance use and mental health disorders.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13722-021-00249-3.
