Treating Adolescents With Opioid Use Disorder: A Medication-Assisted Treatment Approach

With drug-related overdose death involving opioids hitting record numbers in 2021, clinical mental health counselors (CMHCs) need to be prepared to address the needs of adolescent clients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Adolescent populations with OUD have significant risk factors and poor outcomes and are at elevated risk for an opioid-related overdose due to surges in high-potency opioids. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been an evidenced-based treatment option for adolescents that combines pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapies to treat OUD. This article reviews the adolescent MAT literature and provides clinical implications for CMHCs working with adolescent populations diagnosed with OUD. The medications and behavioral therapies utilized in MAT are highlighted in this article, and a case study provides additional context.