A new study finds stark racial disparities in access to a key medication for treating opioid addiction, with predominantly white areas having far greater availability compared to more diverse communities.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh examined geographic access to buprenorphine, a life-saving medication for opioid use disorder, across the United States in 2018. They found that areas with more racial and ethnic diversity had significantly fewer buprenorphine prescribers and prescription fills.
In urban areas that were less than 95% white, there was a 45-55% drop in buprenorphine prescribers compared to predominantly white areas. The disparity was even greater in rural regions, with 62-79% fewer prescribers in more diverse ZIP codes.
“The degree is rather striking,” said lead author Coleman Drake, assistant professor at Pitt’s School of Public Health. “Access is substantially better in areas that are very white.”
The findings suggest lack of access to addiction medications may be contributing to rising overdose deaths among Black and Native American populations.
To address the inequities, Drake recommends increasing buprenorphine prescribers in diverse communities and promoting more prescribing among existing providers, especially in urban areas.
The study, published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, is among the first to examine buprenorphine access at the local level. Further research is needed on how recent changes to prescribing requirements and increased telehealth options have impacted these disparities.
See “Geographic disparities in access to addiction treatment medication may be linked to race, ethnicity” (February 21, 2024)
