Effective Treatment for Opioid-addicted Adults Proves Effective For Young Adults

Young adults given longer term treatment with the medication Buprenorphine were “less likely to use drugs and more likely to stay in treatment.” The results were compared with results from a group of young adults that received short term detoxification without follow-up medication. The drug was proven effective in helping to relive drug cravings.

The product is based on research by NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

"Buprenorphine had been proven effective with adults, but until recently, evidence was lacking that its anti-addiction properties would work in this important group of younger patients," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow, in a press release. "The new product includes a three-hour training package that examines opioid use among young adults and looks at research results showing the effectiveness of buprenorphine for this age group."

Researchers unveiled a multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to an opioid drug that includes administering Buprenorphine. The announcement occurred at the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Blending Conference.