the purpose
This study examined trends in the availability of buprenorphine by substance use disorder treatment facilities (SUDTFs) and waived clinicians during the pandemic. We also examined whether there were differences in access based on a county’s metropolitan status and annual drug addiction fatality rate.
method
Trends in SUDTFs providing buprenorphine and number of exempt clinicians per 10,000 population using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Behavioral Health Treatment Locator from July 2019 to May 2021. I calculated the numbers. We calculate unadjusted trends over time, stratifying by whether a county was above or below the annual median age-adjusted fatal drug overdose rate for that year and by the county’s metropolitan status. did.
result
Results showed that before the pandemic, SUDTF increased and some clinicians were excused from providing buprenorphine, but that rate leveled off during the pandemic. On average, facility growth was approximately 8 percentage points per year, and exempt clinician growth was 0.29 percentage points per year. The proportion of SUDTFs providing buprenorphine peaked at 47%, and the number of waived clinicians leveled off at 1.61 per 10,000 population. The number of SUDTFs and clinicians offering buprenorphine increased in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. Additionally, more SUDTFs and clinicians provided buprenorphine in counties with above and below median addiction rates.
conclusion
This study provides insight into how buprenorphine availability has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and before the repeal of the X-waiver in 2023. Further support will be needed to encourage the provision of buprenorphine by SUDTFs and office-based clinicians.
