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‘Shocking’ data shows more treatment needed for youth with opioid use disorder: doctors
Physicians highlight inaction and scarce evidence-based treatments amid a rise from 12.7% to 21.8% in youth prescription opioid use, urging urgent service investment.
- On Monday, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an editorial by physicians Shannon Charlebois and Shawn Kelly saying the escalation of opioid use among youth is being overlooked and urging provinces to bolster addiction treatment services.
- Health systems' shortcomings have left youth services fragmented and underfunded, with youth substance‑use programs scarce, privately funded, and doctors often uncomfortable prescribing treatments due to stigma.
- Provincial death counts and long‑term trends point to worsening outcomes, with 29 children under 18 dying last year and youth opioid use rising from 12.7% to 21.8% in 2023, according to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey of more than 10,000 students.
- Authors warn that inaction risks a decade of preventable deaths as families in crisis cobble care from emergency departments, under-resourced school counsellors, and several cities declare states of emergency amid the fentanyl crisis.
- Experts point to opioid‑agonist therapies and naloxone as key responses, while an analysis of six provinces found an eight per cent decline in opioid dispensing to new patients in 2022 from 2018.
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37 Articles
37 Articles
Adequate support needed to address Canada's rising youth opioid use
Youth opioid use is increasing in Canada, as are related emergency department visits and deaths, yet governments are not providing adequate support to address this public health crisis, argue the authors of a CMAJ.
·United States
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'Shocking' data shows more treatment needed for youth with opioid use disorder: doctors (Canada)
An editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday says more youth are using opioids and calls for urgent action to provide treatment when they become addicted. "The scary thing is that we know that earlier onset of use is associated with more severe presentations and ...
·Kelowna, Canada
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Winnipeg Free Press+20 Reposted by 20 other sources
'Shocking' data shows more treatment needed for youth with opioid use disorder: doctors
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
·Winnipeg, Canada
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Total News Sources37
Leaning Left18Leaning Right1Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution72% Left
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources lean Left
72% Left
L 72%
C 24%
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