Study Finds Adherence To Opioid Use Disorder Drug Buprenorphine Limits Likelihood Of Opioid Overdose

Youth who adhered to an opioid use disorder prescription drug for a full year were less likely to experience an overdose compared to their peers who discontinued their treatment earlier, according to a study, “Buprenorphine Treatment Duration and Adherence among Youth and Subsequent Health Outcomes.” The study, published in the December 2025 Pediatrics (published online Nov. 18), examined prescription drug usage data from the Massachusetts Public Health Data Warehouse on youths ages 13 to 26 from July 2014 to December 2020. Researchers tracked the use of drugs to treat opioid use disorder, with medications like buprenorphine typically working by binding to opioid receptors in the body and preventing other opioids from binding and causing overdose. Among the 11,649 youths who filled an initial buprenorphine prescription, about 24% remained on the drug for a full 12 months or switched to another medication to treat opioid use disorder. In comparison, about 28% of youths in the study showed low adherence to their prescribed medication; just over 16% continued with the medication from three to nine months, and another 33% discontinued within three months or less. The study found that once participants reached months 13 through 24, those who remained on their medication had decreased risk of opioid overdose and those who discontinued use between three to nine months had a significantly higher risk of fatal overdose. The risk of need for an emergency department visit also decreased as adherence to their prescriptions continued. Authors state this research backs up similar studies done on adults that showed that consistent and prolonged use of opioid use disorder medications is associated with improved outcomes, including overall survival and reduced risk for opioid overdose, emergency department use, and hospitalization.  

To request an embargoed copy of the study, contact AAP Public Affairs. To request an interview with an author, contact McKenzie Ridings ([email protected]).

##

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.