Scott Hadland, MD
@drscotthadland.bsky.social
Pediatrician 👨🏻⚕️ • Chief of Adolescent Med at MassGeneral • Associate Prof at Harvard Med • NIH researcher • Husband & dad of 2 kiddos • 🇨🇦 in 🇺🇸 & 🌈
This has big implications for clinicians, systems, and families. We should:
Lower barriers to staying on meds
Support youth with mental health needs
Also: Some youth will want to taper sooner, and that’s OK, but we should counsel on potential risks.
Lower barriers to staying on meds
Support youth with mental health needs
Also: Some youth will want to taper sooner, and that’s OK, but we should counsel on potential risks.
November 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
This has big implications for clinicians, systems, and families. We should:
Lower barriers to staying on meds
Support youth with mental health needs
Also: Some youth will want to taper sooner, and that’s OK, but we should counsel on potential risks.
Lower barriers to staying on meds
Support youth with mental health needs
Also: Some youth will want to taper sooner, and that’s OK, but we should counsel on potential risks.
The takeaway is clear:
In today’s fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, short-term treatment with meds may not be enough.
Staying on buprenorphine longer = better protection from overdose.
Even when things are improving, staying on treatment may be the safest option.
In today’s fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, short-term treatment with meds may not be enough.
Staying on buprenorphine longer = better protection from overdose.
Even when things are improving, staying on treatment may be the safest option.
November 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The takeaway is clear:
In today’s fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, short-term treatment with meds may not be enough.
Staying on buprenorphine longer = better protection from overdose.
Even when things are improving, staying on treatment may be the safest option.
In today’s fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, short-term treatment with meds may not be enough.
Staying on buprenorphine longer = better protection from overdose.
Even when things are improving, staying on treatment may be the safest option.
In our study of 11,649 youth ages 13-26:
Only ~1 in 4 stayed on buprenorphine consistently for a year.
But those who did had nearly half the risk of overdose.
Overdose risk was:
76% higher if stopping <3 mo
82% higher if stopping 3-9 mo
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
Only ~1 in 4 stayed on buprenorphine consistently for a year.
But those who did had nearly half the risk of overdose.
Overdose risk was:
76% higher if stopping <3 mo
82% higher if stopping 3-9 mo
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
Buprenorphine Treatment Duration and Adherence Among Youth and Subsequent Health Outcomes
10.1542/6378837665112Video AbstractPEDS-VA_2025-0711476378837665112OBJECTIVES. It is unclear how long youth with opioid use disorder (OUD) should continue taking buprenorphine, and what adherence they...
publications.aap.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
In our study of 11,649 youth ages 13-26:
Only ~1 in 4 stayed on buprenorphine consistently for a year.
But those who did had nearly half the risk of overdose.
Overdose risk was:
76% higher if stopping <3 mo
82% higher if stopping 3-9 mo
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
Only ~1 in 4 stayed on buprenorphine consistently for a year.
But those who did had nearly half the risk of overdose.
Overdose risk was:
76% higher if stopping <3 mo
82% higher if stopping 3-9 mo
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...