The Link - November 2025

Opioid use disorder (OUD) among adolescents and young adults is a growing public health concern.^1-3 Each year, thousands of young individuals face the challenges of opioid dependence, withdrawal, and the risk of overdose. Prescription opioid misuse and illicit opioid use are prevalent among this population and can lead to substance use disorder, specifically OUD. OUD is characterized by a pattern of chronic opioid use that leads to clinically significant distress or impairment, such as an overpowering desire to use opioids, an increased opioid tolerance, or signs of withdrawal when opioids are discontinued.³ In 2024, approximately 267,000 adolescents (12 to 17 years) were estimated to have an OUD, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.³

Mental wellness has become an essential topic, not only for our patients but for ourselves. For the families we serve, the academic pressures, digital overload and packed schedules often leave them feeling stretched thin. Yet mental wellness isn’t simply the absence of mental illness—it’s the active maintenance of emotional and cognitive balance.

Pediatricians can play a powerful role in helping families promote resilience and joy. This article outlines key components for maintaining mental wellness across the lifespan.  

Evolving guidelines for genetic testing bring challenges to primary care providers, who are increasingly being called on to diagnose and evaluate children with neurodevelopmental disorders. While many of these children could benefit from genetic testing, the number of available tests being offered can feel overwhelming. The Children’s Mercy Clinical Genetics and Genomics Laboratory has several laboratory genetic counselors to assist community providers in obtaining the right testing for their patients.

Using data from the influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere (in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Paraguay, South Africa and Uruguay) from April-September 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a report on the effectiveness of the 2025-2026 influenza vaccine. Influenza vaccine reduced influenza-associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations. The adjusted vaccine effectiveness rate for the prevention of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 50.4%. The adjusted vaccine effectiveness rate for the prevention of hospitalization for all severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) was 49.7%. Of patients with ILI, only 21.3% had received influenza vaccine. Of those hospitalized with SARI, 15.5% were vaccinated for influenza. Influenza A was the most identified virus in both outpatient and hospitalized patients and was present in 82.4% of people with ILI and 94.9% of those with SARI. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the most prevalent variant, at 39.9% and 58.7% of ILI and SARI cases, respectively.¹ It is anticipated that protection from influenza vaccination in the Northern Hemisphere for the present 2025-2026 influenza season will be similar.