Teens and Buprenorphine Equal An Unlikely Pairing in Treatment Settings
Why are teens and buprenorphine such an unlikely pairing in most treatment settings? In a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), there are alarming statistics about the use of medications for addiction treatment (MAT) for adolescents in rehab. For example, connecting teens and buprenorphine is a very low priority. In reality, only one in four treatment centers that offer care for adolescents with opioid use disorder (OUD) also offer MAT Services. Unfortunately, it is more likely for a teen to get equine therapy with a horse.
At Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC), teens and buprenorphine are not a low priority. When a teen comes into treatment for opioid use disorder, MAT Services is a high priority. The TTC website states, “Using MAT (Medications for Addiction Treatment) Services for youth, TTC opens the door to successful recovery outcomes. Indeed, our goal is the long-term health and success of your youth.”
Teens and Buprenorphine = Saving Lives
To help parents understand the challenge, it is critical to understand the role of buprenorphine. Known as a partial opioid agonist, buprenorphine is a recovery medication. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Opioid Use Disorder. By filling the opioid receptors in the brain, buprenorphine prevents cravings and promotes recovery.
When taken safely in a treatment setting, buprenorphine is safe and effective. Moreover, buprenorphine offers a few definite advantages for the opioid user in early recovery:
- Diminishes withdrawal symptoms and cravings
- Dramatically reduces the chances of accidental overdose
- Lowers the potential for misuse and abuse
For teens, such recovery advantages are critical. Indeed, recovery from opioid dependence is challenging. Hence, many people in early recovery from opioid use disorder end up relapsing. Given the dangers of relapse, TTC does everything possible to ensure teens are safer. Thus, the combination of teens and buprenorphine makes sense.
NIDA Supports Teens and Buprenorphine
According to Dr. Nora Volkow, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, teens and buprenorphine is essential. For example, Dr. Volkow explains, “It is tragic to see that young people with opioid use disorder are unable to access buprenorphine in most treatment facilities, despite this medication being the standard of care for people aged 16 and older. Residential treatment facilities provide an opportunity to reach young people with a range of evidence-based supports at a pivotal time in their lives, and it is crucial that buprenorphine is made available as one of those options.”
Like Dr. Nora Volkow, TTC is a proponent of helping teens recover from opioid use disorder. From experience, we know that MAT Services work in practice with adolescents. If you want to learn more about teens and buprenorphine, please get in touch with us today.