Opioids and the Urgent Need to Focus on the Health Care of Young Adults

During the 20th century, adolescence emerged as a unique period in the human life span that warranted specific scientific focus.1,2 Similarly, in the 21st century, young adulthood has been recognized as another unique period in the life span.3–5 Despite calls for research to advance the health and health care of the young adult population, young adults are underrepresented in medical research.6,7 When they are included, data on young adults are often aggregated with data of adolescents or older adults. Thus, the study by Hudgins et al8 in this issue of Pediatrics is notable for its focus on an important health topic and for its separate analyses of opioid prescriptions written for adolescents and for young adults. Using nationally representative data, the authors present trends and characteristics associated with opioid prescriptions written for adolescents (ages 13–17 years) and young adults (ages 18–22 years) from 2005 to 2015 in ambulatory care settings. The study found that opioid prescriptions were common for both groups but approximately twice as common for young adults. … Address correspondence to S. Todd Callahan, MD, MPH, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, 719 Thompson Lane, Suite 36300, Nashville, TN 37204. E-mail: todd.callahan{at}vumc.org