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In 2007, approximately 232,000 adolescents in the U.S misused sustained-release oxycodone and 24,000 used heroin, 45% via injection. Currently approved treatments for opioid dependence are naltrexone (an opioid antagonist), methadone, buprenorphine (a new schedule III, µ-opioid partial antagonist), and buprenorphine-naloxone in combination. In an unblinded trial conducted at six community programs, investigators randomized 154 patients (age range, 15–21) to receive buprenorphine-naloxone for 12 weeks (up to 24 mg per day for 9 weeks and then tapered until week 12) or 14 days (up to 14 mg per day and then tapered until day 14).
Significantly more patients in the 14-day detoxification group than in the 12-week extended-treatment group had opio…