Interventions for opioid use disorder among adolescents: A systematic review

Background: Opioid misuse among adolescents has reached crisis levels, as evidenced by high rates of overdose deaths and a growing number of affected youths. These concerns underscore the urgency of identifying effective interventions specifically tailored to adolescents with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Methods: The review examined pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic opioid misuse interventions for 13-26-year-olds. It focused on interventions aimed at reducing substance use or treating psychiatric conditions with OUD from 2014 to 2024. The review included studies on Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved OUD medications and behavioural interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Pharmacotherapy - particularly Buprenorphine - and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) were found to significantly reduce relapse rates and improve treatment retention, as observed in programs like Youth Opioid Recovery Support (YORS). Overall, long-term pharmacological treatments combined with behavioural interventions demonstrated the greatest impact on reducing opioid misuse among adolescents and young adults. Conclusions: Early, age-specific interventions are critical in addressing adolescent OUD. Integrating substance use treatment into broader healthcare systems, particularly by offering tailored pharmacological and behavioural approaches, appears most promising for reducing opioid misuse and improving long-term outcomes.