Opioid addiction goes up but not the rate of treatment, says report

The rate of opioid addiction is rising drastically among young Americans. However, very few of them are actually receiving treatment, which could help prevent overdose or relapse, says a recent study.

Opioid addiction among youth jumped almost five-fold between 2010 and 2015, with the trend hitting the sky in 2014. However, medication-assisted treatment involving drugs like buprenorphine, naloxone and suboxone is not very common in the states where addiction is severe. Treatment with these medicines is more prevalent in states like New York, New England and Pennsylvania, where addiction rate is not as severe as in other states.

The report, prepared by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), collated a data of 30 million users, combining their medical and pharmacy information to look at the opioid epidemic trend. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 36 health insurance organizations in the United States.

The researchers looked at the data of private insurance claims of teens and young adults between ages 13 and 25 who were diagnosed with an opioid addiction during 2001- 2014. In 2016, BCBS found that nearly 1 percent members had opioid use disorder.

The opioid epidemic is definitely at its worst right now, with 30,000 U.S. adults having succumbed to opioid overdoses last year. The situation is so bad that this number is more than the deaths involving motor vehicle crashes every year.

Some startling findings from the survey

The researchers gleaned some perturbing developments while going through the insurance data.

The study revealed that in 2015, roughly one in five privately insured Americans filled at least one prescription to procure opioids.

Among patients who received prescription opioids, 45 percent received a higher dose of painkillers. Higher doses are closely associated with an addiction at a later stage. Further, the records revealed that addiction was higher among those who received a higher dose of narcotic painkillers. Almost 6.2 percent of such patients would go on to become an opioid addict.

The report found that lower doses, even for a prolonged period did not result in addiction. This shows that the prescribing trend has a role to play in the epidemic that is crippling the U.S.

The BCBS called the opiate addiction as “the fifth most impactful condition affecting the health of commercially insured members in the U.S.”

Lack of treatment worsens the situation

The predicament from the opioid epidemic has reached such a level that it would require humongous effort to neutralize the effect. “It will take a collaborative effort of health providers, insurers, communities and all levels of government working together to develop solutions that effectively meet community needs,” said one insurance giant.

The situation may be worse, yet adequate and prolific treatment programs could have saved many lives. These medication-based programs with buprenorphine, naloxone and suboxone are an evidence-based standard treatment for opioid addiction, which, on timely treatment can reverse opioid overdose effect. Hence, agencies have to take a call and decide on future course of action.

Dealing with addiction

Addiction may be fatal if not intervened at the earliest but it is also treatable and one can gain sobriety with proper treatment. Sovereign Health is a leading substance abuse treatment organization in the U.S., with centers located in major places across the country. We also provide behavioral treatment for mental health problems.

So, if a loved one is struggling with an addiction, call our 24/7 helpline number or chat online for an immediate assistance. Our representatives can guide you with all relevant information regarding treatment. Whether it is the drug treatment centers in Fort Myers or mental health facilities in Fort Myers, you can get the most comprehensive treatment programs with us.