Opioid Use Disorder and Evidence-Based Care Among Medicaid-Enrolled Youths

Source:

Hadland SE, Opara I, Fung V, et al. Opioid Use Disorder and Evidence-Based Care Among Medicaid-Enrolled Youths. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(10):e2637263. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.37263

Key Points

Question  To what extent do Medicaid-enrolled adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive evidence-based care and progress through key stages of treatment (ie, initiation, engagement, receipt of addiction medication, and retention)?

Findings  In this cohort of 229 847 Medicaid-enrolled adolescents and young adults with OUD, approximately half of those enrolled initiated treatment and one-third engaged in care. Overall, 1 in 6 received medication for OUD (46% of those engaged in care), and 1 in 32 had 180 days or more of medication retention.

Meaning  These findings suggest large gaps exist across the OUD cascade of care for adolescents and young adults, highlighting the need for policies and care models that expand medication access and improve treatment retention.