Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is unknown. Methods: We used IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Claims, including US AYAs aged 12–29 with at least 1 buprenorphine fill between January 2018 and August 2020, stratifying by age group and insurance. We compared buprenorphine prescriptions in March-August 2019 to March-August 2020. Results: The monthly buprenorphine prescription rate increased 8.3% among AYAs aged 12–17 but decreased 7.5% among 18- to 24-year-olds and decreased 5.1% among 25- to 29-year-olds. In these age groups, Medicaid prescriptions did not significantly change, whereas commercial insurance prescriptions decreased 12.9% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 11.8% in 25- to 29-year-olds, and cash/other prescriptions decreased 18.7% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 19.9% in 25- to 29-year-olds (p <.001 for all). Discussion: Buprenorphine prescriptions paid with commercial insurance or cash among young adults significantly decreased early in the pandemic, suggesting a possible unmet treatment need among this group.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 239-241 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Adolescent Health |
Volume | 71 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2022 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adolescent health services
- COVID-19
- Insurance
- Medicaid
- Medication for addiction treatment
- Medication for opioid use disorder
- Opioid use disorder
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health