Study finds gender- and age-based differences among adolescents experiencing immortal opioid overdose

The results of a national study show significant differences based on gender and age among adolescents and young adults experiencing immortal opioid overdose. Adolescents aged 11 to 16 have a higher incidence of non-fatal opioid overdose compared to male adolescents of the same age. That goes back at age 17, however, because men between the ages of 17 and 24 have a higher frequency of non-fatal opioid fugitives compared to their female peers. Led by researchers from the Grayken Center for Slavery at Boston Medical Center and published in Open JAMA Network, the study highlights gender-based risk factors that could be used to develop more effective strategies to screen for and prevent opioid overdose in adolescents and young adults.

A study published in 2018 shows alarming trends associated with opioid overdose among adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19. Opioid prescriptions increased by 404 percent from 1999 to 2016, with deaths for opioid overdoses up 268 percent in that period. However, many adolescents and young adults diagnosed with a substance use disorder, or opioid use disorder, do not receive medication to treat their condition.

“We know that teenagers and young adults are affected by opioid epilepsy, but there is not enough data on how or if their risks may differ from adults,” said Sarah Bagley, MD, teenage and junior MSc director of Boston Medical Center. adult addiction treatment program and the corresponding author of the study. “To help reduce this increase, we need to better understand the issues facing our patients so that we can develop specific approaches to address underlying conditions that may contribute. the dangers for too much. “

This retrospective cohort study examined the characteristics of non-lethal opioid overdoses experienced by both males and females, and then compared the frequency of non-lethal opioid prescribing in male and female adolescents and young adults. The study data were obtained from IBM Marketscan Commercial and included a cohort of 20,312 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 24 who suffered an immortal predisposition between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2017. It was the median age of individuals included in the group was 20, and approximately 42 percent were female, all of whom had commercial insurance.

The research data showed that women had more anxiety and depression, and a history of self-harm and suicide attempts. Adolescent males had a higher frequency of other substance use problems, including alcohol and cannabis. Between the ages of 11 and 16, females had significantly higher immortality prescriptions, but at age 17, that changes as the males then have higher immortal opioid prescriptions.

“The results of the study provide a unique insight into the complementary issues affecting adolescent and young adult patients,” said Bagley, who is also an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at the School of Medicine. Boston University. “We hope this data will form the basis for the development of targeted interventions to prevent overdose of non-lethal opioid doses, as well as strategies for greater access and participation. effective in treatment for this population. “