Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder With Buprenorphine Among US Adolescents and Young Adults During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

Rachel H. Alinsky; Laura Prichett; Hsien Yen Chang; G. Caleb Alexander; Bradley D. Stein; Brendan Saloner

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.03.015

Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder With Buprenorphine Among US Adolescents and Young Adults During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

Rachel H. Alinsky, Laura Prichett, Hsien Yen Chang, G. Caleb Alexander, Bradley D. Stein, Brendan Saloner

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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)
Pages (from-to)	239-241
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume	71
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.03.015
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

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10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.03.015

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@article{548640c0c27e4c5fa064a9f697e0f5e8,

title = "Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder With Buprenorphine Among US Adolescents and Young Adults During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic",

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.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adolescent health services, COVID-19, Insurance, Medicaid, Medication for addiction treatment, Medication for opioid use disorder, Opioid use disorder",

author = "Alinsky, {Rachel H.} and Laura Prichett and Chang, {Hsien Yen} and Alexander, {G. Caleb} and Stein, {Bradley D.} and Brendan Saloner",

note = "Funding Information: Drs. Alinsky, Stein, and Saloner were supported by the RAND - USC Schaeffer Opioid Policy Tools and Information Center (OPTIC) ( P50DA046351 ). Data acquisition was supported by the IQVIA Institute Human Data Science Research Collaborative . The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Funding Information: Drs. Alinsky, Stein, and Saloner were supported by the RAND-USC Schaeffer Opioid Policy Tools and Information Center (OPTIC) (P50DA046351). Data acquisition was supported by the IQVIA Institute Human Data Science Research Collaborative. The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine",

year = "2022",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.03.015",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "71",

pages = "239--241",

journal = "Journal of Adolescent Health",

issn = "1054-139X",

publisher = "Elsevier USA",

number = "2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder With Buprenorphine Among US Adolescents and Young Adults During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Alinsky, Rachel H.

AU - Prichett, Laura

AU - Chang, Hsien Yen

AU - Alexander, G. Caleb

AU - Stein, Bradley D.

AU - Saloner, Brendan

N1 - Funding Information: Drs. Alinsky, Stein, and Saloner were supported by the RAND - USC Schaeffer Opioid Policy Tools and Information Center (OPTIC) ( P50DA046351 ). Data acquisition was supported by the IQVIA Institute Human Data Science Research Collaborative . The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Funding Information: Drs. Alinsky, Stein, and Saloner were supported by the RAND-USC Schaeffer Opioid Policy Tools and Information Center (OPTIC) (P50DA046351). Data acquisition was supported by the IQVIA Institute Human Data Science Research Collaborative. The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adolescent health services

KW - COVID-19

KW - Insurance

KW - Medicaid

KW - Medication for addiction treatment

KW - Medication for opioid use disorder

KW - Opioid use disorder

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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.03.015

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ER -

Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder With Buprenorphine Among US Adolescents and Young Adults During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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