The FDA has approved three medications to treat opioid dependence. But only one – buprenorphine – is approved for patients under age 18. The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine recommends the medication as a “critical component” of treating addiction in teens, especially with adolescent overdose deaths on the rise. However, a new study from Oregon Health & Science University found that only one in four adolescent treatment facilities offers the drug.
Caroline King led the study as a medical student at OHSU. She joins us with more details on the findings.
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