Challenges treating opioid-addicted B.C. youth prompt new guidelines

published on June 13, 2018 by The Canadian Press in CBC News

Special attention given to treatment of older teens about to age out of youth care

New guidelines aimed at improving treatment for opioid-addicted young people have been released by the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use.

A news release from the centre says treatment for youth must be developmentally and culturally appropriate and, while confidential, should also involve family where possible.

It says the guidelines are aimed at being as flexible, accessible and user friendly as possible, while offering all available drug and counselling options.

Special attention is given to treatment of older teens about to age out of youth care, with proposals to ensure those teens transition seamlessly to adult programs.

The centre says an absence of evidence-based guidelines and scarcity of youth-focused treatment programs have created challenges in B.C. when dealing with opioid addiction in young patients.