Launching Relationship-Oriented Behavioral Services for Youth Opioid Use Disorder: Innovations in Medication Decision-Making and Adherence Planning

Abstract

This article presents behavioral interventions designed to enhance uptake and retention on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among transition-age youth (16–25 years) enrolled in treatment services. The article describes three relationship-oriented interventions designed to address barriers to MOUD uptake, enhance MOUD adherence planning, and strengthen OUD recovery among youth: Relational Orientation; Medication Education and Decision-making Support, and Family Leadership and Ownership of Adherence to Treatment. These interventions are inter-connected can be delivered flexibly. The article concludes with three case examples that illustrate how these modular interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of diverse client profiles.

Keywords:

• Family-based interventions
• medication
• opioid use disorder
• transition-age youth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Preparation of this article was supported by the Family Involvement in Recovery Support and Treatment (FIRST) Research Network, which is co-funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (1R24DA051946-01; PI: Hogue); the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.