Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) starts early.
More than half of adults with a SUD report symptoms by age 18 and 80% by age 24. A recent study by Wilson, et al in JAMA examined risk factors for OUD in opioid-naive youths and young adults in a sample of almost 190,000 persons who received an initial opioid prescription. Those on the “high-risk” trajectory were older, more likely to have depression or anxiety, and to have received a prescription for a more potent opioid for a slightly longer time. The initial prescription was most often from an internist or dentist. Persons on the “high risk trajectory” had a three times greater risk of a subsequent diagnosis of OUD. Unfortunately, this study only addresses the second most common young adult source of opioids, a health care provider’s prescription. The first source is a “gift” from a friend or relative.