Buprenorphine Lowers Opioid OD Risk, But Only If Taken As Directed Long

Key Takeaways

Buprenorphine dramatically lowers overdose risk among teenagers and young adults

However, it’s more effective when taken for at least a year

Those who quit sooner or had low adherence to their prescription had a higher risk of overdose

THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The opioid addiction medication buprenorphine can dramatically lower risk of overdose among teenagers and young adults — but only if taken long-term, a new study says.

Those who kept taking buprenorphine as prescribed for at least a year were much less likely to suffer an overdose or require hospitalization due to opioid use, researchers report Nov. 18 in the journal Pediatrics .

“We are commonly asked in youth addiction treatment how long to stay on medication and how strictly it must be t