Substance Use Disorder

Treatment for Substance Use Disorder in the Synthetic Opioid Era
Treatment for Substance Use Disorder in the Synthetic Opioid Era 1024 683 Alaina Doklovic

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the recommended first line treatment for adolescents with opioid use disorder (OUD), the chronic use of opioids and/or synthetic opioids that causes clinically significant distress or impairment. Buprenorphine is the most accessible medication for MOUD. Studies show long-term use of buprenorphine decreases opioid use, reduces overdose risk and…

Introducing the Fourth Wave of the Drug Epidemic
Introducing the Fourth Wave of the Drug Epidemic 1024 575 Alaina Doklovic

Drug overdoses and poisoning are the third leading cause of pediatric death. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of fentanyl-related overdoses, with 15-19 year olds being the most affected. In the Ohio illicit drug supply, as shared by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), the emerging drugs, known as…

Harm Reduction: Meeting Patients With Substance Use Disorders Where They Are
Harm Reduction: Meeting Patients With Substance Use Disorders Where They Are 1024 768 Alaina Doklovic

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fewer than 10% of adolescents with a substance use disorder receive care. Of those 10%, many are not ready to engage in treatment. They are often brought in by a parent or guardian. Harm reduction is an opportunity to engage all adolescents, whether they are…

Trauma and Resilience in Youth With Opioid Use and Eating Disorders
Trauma and Resilience in Youth With Opioid Use and Eating Disorders 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
Teen girl with backpack

Health care providers should expect patients to have hidden traumas and reduced resilience.   When treating adolescents and young adults in the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery program at Nationwide Children’s, medical director Erin R. McKnight, MD, MPH, noticed that while most of her young patients had experienced some trauma in their lives, some patients…

Building Hope, Recovery, and Life Beyond Substance Use Disorder
Building Hope, Recovery, and Life Beyond Substance Use Disorder 1024 702 Abbie Miller

Five years ago, Pediatrics Nationwide dedicated its fall issue to a comprehensive look at the effects of the opioid crisis on children and families. At that time, Sarah Parker was working hard to stay sober, recovering from the very crisis holding the nation’s attention. Parker grew up in Chillicothe, Ohio, halfway between Portsmouth, Ohio, the…