Hospital-at-Home Programs, Buprenorphine Prescribing for Adolescents and Young Adults, Medicare Advantage Dental Benefits, and more

Trends in Buprenorphine Dispensing

A cross-sectional study revealed trends in buprenorphine dispensing for adolescents and young adults in the United States, indicating an increase among adolescents but a decline among young adults from 2020 to 2023. Despite this uptick in dispensing, the overall rates remained low compared to the prevalence of opioid use disorders within these groups, highlighting a gap in access to necessary treatment. This emphasizes the need for improved strategies to encourage the uptake of buprenorphine, especially given its unique approval for use in individuals as young as 16 years old. The findings suggest that while awareness of treatment options is growing, there is still significant work to be done to ensure adequate access for all age demographics facing opioid use challenges.