Comparison between buprenorphine provider availability and opioid deaths among US counties

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Buprenorphine is a crucial medication for treating opioid addiction.
• Access to buprenorphine treatment remains a significant challenge for many patients in the US.
• Geographic disparities in treatment availability exacerbate the opioid crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize US regions with inadequate buprenorphine access relative to overdose death rates.
• To analyze the spatial distribution of buprenorphine providers and opioid overdose deaths.
• To inform strategies for improving equitable access to addiction treatment.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using county-level data from 2013-2015.
• Data sources include the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Treatment Practitioner Locator and CDC WONDER Database.
• Spatial analysis techniques (Global Moran's I, Local Indicator of Spatial Autocorrelation) were employed to assess clustering and identify disparities.

Main Results:

• Analysis included 846 counties, representing 83% of the US population.
• Significant spatial clustering of both buprenorphine providers and overdose deaths was observed.
• Limited buprenorphine access relative to overdose burden was identified in the Midwestern and Southern US.

Conclusions:

• Substantial county-level imbalances exist between buprenorphine provider availability and the burden of opioid overdose deaths across the US.
• These disparities highlight critical gaps in treatment access, particularly in certain geographic areas.
• Addressing these imbalances is essential for mitigating the ongoing opioid crisis.