A Scoping Review of Youth Overdose Prevention Interventions

A Scoping Review of Youth Overdose Prevention Interventions

Published: January/February 2026
Journal Article

Overview

This one-hour, on-demand, journal article–based activity examines youth-specific overdose prevention interventions, an important topic given the rising overdose deaths among adolescents and young adults. The article reviews existing educational programs designed to improve overdose awareness, risk recognition, and response among youth. It highlights features of current programs, describes how interventions have been evaluated, and identifies gaps in the evidence on effectiveness, implementation, and distribution. This review provides context for understanding the current conditions of youth overdose prevention efforts and informs future public health and clinical education strategies. 

The target audience for this intermediate continuing education activity includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinicians, researchers, students, and policymakers. 

This activity addresses the following ACGME Core Competencies: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, and Systems-Based Practice. 

Abstract

Aims 

Opioid overdose deaths among youth (those 24 years of age and younger) significantly increased in recent years despite a decline in the overall prevalence of substance use. The two key objectives of this study were (1) to identify and summarize existing youth overdose prevention interventions and (2) to delineate what is needed to refine, implement, and disseminate this critical information to prevent youth overdose.

Methods

Using the adapted PRISMA Checklist for Scoping Reviews, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed descriptions of youth overdose prevention education interventions from 2010-2023. We searched U.S. government institutions and news outlets to identify youth overdose prevention interventions in the gray literature. We synthesized key characteristics of programs.

Results

We identified a total of 16 unique programs that fit our inclusion criteria, 9 from the peer-reviewed literature and 7 from the gray literature. Half of the studies (n=8) described overdose prevention interventions with some evaluation component that indicated an improvement in overdose prevention knowledge. However, most programs do not have evaluation data available on whether they are effective in reducing opioid overdoses.

Conclusion

In this scoping review, we identified a small number of youth-specific overdose prevention interventions. There is an urgent need to develop, implement, and test interventions that address gaps in the youth overdose prevention landscape.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to:

1. Describe youth overdose prevention education interventions, including their target populations and core components.    
2. Identify clinical, community, and educational settings in which youth overdose prevention interventions have been implemented.   
3. Summarize considerations for designing, implementing, and evaluating future youth overdose prevention interventions. 

Registration Rates

*Residents, Fellows-in-training, Interns, and Students must join ASAM to receive a discounted registration rate. Click here to become an ASAM member. National and Chapter membership dues apply. There is no charge for Students to become a Member, but verification of student status is required.

Membership Question?  Call ASAM at 1.301.656.3920, email us, or view the ASAM website for more information.

Refunds & Cancellations

All ASAM eLearning Center refund requests must be made in writing to education@asam.org within 90 days of purchase. Those requesting refunds for courses that are in progress will receive partial refunds or eLearning Center credit. Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been canceled.

Open Registration: 02/10/2026 - 02/10/2029

Close Access Date: 02/10/2029

Course Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to begin this activity.
2. Click Download Journal Article in the box titled Journal Article and read the journal article in its entirety. 
3. Click Complete Post-Test to answer multiple-choice questions. You will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly.
4. Click Complete General Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions, as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
5. Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the ASAM eLearning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.

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Accreditation & Credits

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credits Available

• Physicians: 1.00 Credit
• Nurses & NPs: 1.00 Nursing Contact Hour
• PAs: 1.00 Credit
• Interprofessional Continuing Education: 1.00 Credit
• Certified Counselors: NBCC Contact Hours Not Offered

  

  American Society of Addiction Medicine has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7062. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Society of Addiction Medicine is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)/Continuing Certification Program (CCP)

This activity is designed to meet the requirements for MOC/CCP for several primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported and designated for ABA, ABP, ABIM, and ABS. By completing the online credit application and evaluation, the learner permits ASAM to report credits to the appropriate Board. Learn more.

• ABIM MOC Points: 1.00 Medical Knowledge
• ABP MOC: 1.00 Lifelong Learning & Self-Assessment
• ABS Continuing Certification: 1.00 Accredited CME
• ABA MOCA 2.0®*: 1.00 Lifelong Learning MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American Board of Anesthesiology®. This activity contributes to the CME requirement for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment of the American Board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, https://www.theaba.org/, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.

Additionally, this activity has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the following primary physician board certification requirements. Please confirm with your individual Board.

• American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
• American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)
• American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

Certificates for other professions

All participants may request a certificate of participation upon completion of the activity and an online evaluation confirming their participation. Learners are strongly advised to contact their professional licensing board or professional association to confirm this certificate will be accepted as evidence supporting continuing education requirements.

California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)

This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225.

California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)

This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205.

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)

This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-0227.

Disclosure Information

In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and Joint Accreditation, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all accredited continuing education activities. These policies include identifying and mitigating all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved in the creation and dissemination of accredited continuing education. 

See the attached article and pdf for a list of disclosures