An Assertive Community Intervention to Engage Youth with Opioid Use Disorder and Their Families

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2024 Oct;33(4):709-728. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2024.02.007. Epub 2024 Apr 6.

Abstract

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are the most effective treatment for OUD. Many patients struggle with adherence, but young adults face unique developmental barriers and experience higher relapse rates. The Youth Opioid Recovery Support (YORS) intervention is a developmentally informed behavioral approach to increase medication adherence through assertive outreach, family involvement, low-barrier access to extended-release MOUD, and contingency management. Early studies have shown promising results, and a randomized controlled trial is underway. Here we describe the implementation of YORS using case examples, offer guidance on adapting YORS to real-world clinical settings, and explore future directions for research and practice.

Keywords: Assertive outreach; Contingency management; Family; Medication adherence; Opioid use disorder; Treatment significant other; Young adults.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Community Mental Health Services / methods
  • Family
  • Humans
  • Medication Adherence
  • Opiate Substitution Treatment / methods
  • Opioid-Related Disorders* / therapy
  • Young Adult