Abstract

Morbidity and mortality attributable to opioid use and misuse among adolescents and young adults are evident. Although recent trend data suggest a decrease in both opioid misuse and opioid use disorder among adolescents and young adults in the last few years, overdose cases continue to rise. The opioid epidemic among this population is complex and has a different profile compared to adults, with family facilitating exposure to opioids more often than other sources. Additionally, despite recommendations by experts to initiate medications for opioid use disorder, few initiate treatment. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many facets of daily life and its effects on the opioid crisis are largely unknown. Stay-at-home mandates resulting in online schooling and limited social interaction has had deleterious consequences for adolescents, especially their mental health. This viewpoint attempts to explore the effects of the pandemic on the opioid crisis in this vulnerable population.

摘要

青少年和年轻人中阿片类药物使用和滥用导致的发病率和死亡率是显而易见的。尽管最近的趋势数据表明过去几年青少年和年轻人的阿片类药物滥用和阿片类药物使用障碍有所减少，但过量病例继续上升。该人群中的阿片类药物流行很复杂，与成年人相比具有不同的特征，与其他来源相比，家庭更频繁地促进接触阿片类药物。此外，尽管专家建议开始治疗阿片类药物使用障碍，但很少有人开始治疗。最近的 COVID-19 大流行影响了日常生活的许多方面，其对阿片类药物危机的影响在很大程度上是未知的。居家令导致在线教育和有限的社交互动对青少年产生了有害的后果，尤其是他们的心理健康。这一观点试图探索大流行对这一弱势群体的阿片类药物危机的影响。