P3A001: Buprenorphine Dispensing Among Youth Aged ≤19 Years in the United States: 2015-2020

Background: Opioid-involved overdose among adolescents and young adults in the United States is rising. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine, can reduce the risk of overdose; however, they are underutilized. A better understanding of buprenorphine prescribing to youth will help inform interventions to expand access to treatment.

Methods: We used IQVIA data (which captures 93% of U.S. retail prescriptions) to examine buprenorphine dispensing trends among U.S. youth aged ≤19 years from 2015-2020. Dispensing was examined by prescriber specialty, age, and sex. Data were weighted to provide national estimates.

Results: The rate of buprenorphine dispensed to youth decreased 25% over the study period, from 0.84 to 0.63 prescriptions per 1,000 youth/year. The proportion of youth dispensed buprenorphine also decreased 45%, from 7.6 to 4.2 persons per 100,000/year. Over the same time, the proportion of adults aged ≥20 years dispensed buprenorphine increased 47%, from 378 to 593 persons per 100,000. Differences in dispensing by sex and temporal trends were also noted. Pediatricians accounted for less than 2% of all prescriptions dispensed.

Conclusion: Buprenorphine dispensing to youth is low and declining in recent years. Given rates of OUD among youth, these findings suggest that many youth who could benefit from MOUD are not receiving it. Pediatricians could play a role in expanding access to MOUD for this high-risk population. Efforts to expand access to MOUD for adolescents could include improving training in OUD treatment for pediatricians and increasing opportunities to link youth with OUD to care and treatment.