As we continue the ongoing effort to address the opioid crisis, I was disappointed to read this nationwide study conducted by Massachusetts General for Children and the Yale School of Medicine that found many pediatricians are unprepared to provide comprehensive support for patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD). While pediatricians are comfortable connecting adolescents to treatment programs, research demonstrated that many pediatricians are not prescribing medications.

A survey of pediatricians revealed that approximately 5 percent had utilized medications for OUD as part of their standard level of care, and more than half of pediatricians considered themselves not fully prepared to counsel patients on OUD. Since the data showed in 2019 that only about 33 percent of pediatric residency programs provided education for prescribing medication for OUD, the researchers called for more enhanced and ongoing training in this area

“We will continue our advocacy with the American Academy of Pediatrics, government agencies, and medical schools to increase pediatric training opportunities that can pave the way for greater evidence-based care of opioid addiction in young patients,” said Scott Hadland, MD, MPH, Chief of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Massachusetts General for Children.  “Our goal is to help these pediatricians understand that prescribing medications is one part of treatment that is truly lifesaving, and that they can start this therapy immediately while linking patients and families to appropriate care.”

Please register for any of PDFNJ’s upcoming Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series webinars here.