A Scoping Review of Evidence-Based Interventions and Health-Related Services for Youth Who Use Nonmedical Opioids in Canada and the United States

Kirsten Marchand; Roxanne Turuba; Daphne Hui; Holly Gunn; Mary Doug Wright; Tyler Marshall; Danya Fast; Rodney Knight; David C Marsh; Roberto Sassi; Steve Mathias; Skye Barbic

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.07.013

A Scoping Review of Evidence-Based Interventions and Health-Related Services for Youth Who Use Nonmedical Opioids in Canada and the United States

J Adolesc Health. 2024 Sep 27:S1054-139X(24)00344-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.07.013. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Foundry, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Foundry, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
³ Changemark Research + Evaluation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁴ British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁵ British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (DMSP), University of Montreal, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁶ Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; Health Science North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁸ Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Foundry, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

PMID: 39340500
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.07.013

Abstract

Purpose: This scoping review synthesizes the characteristics and outcomes of recent evidence-based treatments and services for youth with nonmedical opioid use/opioid use disorder in the context of the ongoing opioid crisis in Canada and the United States.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses - Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, empirical health databases were searched for literature describing treatments or health-related services for nonmedical opioid use/opioid use disorder among youth (ages 12-25). Two independent reviewers conducted study screening, selection, and data extraction. A deductive content analysis further synthesized the interventions' characteristics following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and an inductive content analysis synthesized the interventions' efficacy/effectiveness outcomes.

Results: Twenty-five articles met inclusion from 2,761 screened; 88% described opioid agonist treatment (alone or in combination with nonpharmacological treatment). Following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, commonly identified adaptable characteristics included treatment decision-making processes, integrated health and social services, and treatment settings. Efficacy/effectiveness outcomes most frequently included substance use and treatment engagement.

Discussion: This study informs future development, implementation, and evaluation of practices and policies that could be tailored to improve the quality of opioid agonist treatment for youth at risk of significant harms from nonmedical opioid use.

Keywords: Adolescents; Consolidated framework for implementation research; Nonmedical opioid use; Opioid agonist treatment; Opioid use disorder; Review; Young adults; Youth.

Publication types

Review