Association between buprenorphine capacity rates and percentages of ethnic/racial minorities at the county level in the United States

Saharnaz Nedjat; Marc Fleming

doi:10.5055/jom.0858

Authors

Saharnaz Nedjat, MD, PhD
Marc Fleming, PhD, MPH, RPh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.0858

Keywords:

buprenorphine, opioid-related disorders, healthcare disparities, Blacks, Hispanics, health inequity

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the association between patient treatment capacity rates and the percentage of racial/ethnic minorities at the county level.

Design: Ecological study at the county level.

Exposure: The percentages of racial/ethnic minorities and the people living in poverty in 3,140 counties serve as the main exposure and confounder variables.

Main outcome measure: “No or low patient capacity” was defined as a patient capacity rate less than or equal to the 40th percentile of the distribution. Patient capacity rates were calculated by adding the maximum number of patients X-waivered providers could potentially treat in each county.

Result: Counties in higher racial/ethnic minority quintiles had significantly lower odds of “no or low patient capacity” than those in the lowest quintile in multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio, 0.29; 95 percent CI, 0.14-0.61).

Conclusion: Since racial/ethnic minorities continue to have limited access to buprenorphine, as shown in individual-level studies, merely increasing treatment capacity is largely insufficient.

Author Biographies

Saharnaz Nedjat, MD, PhD

Research Associate, Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California

Marc Fleming, PhD, MPH, RPh

Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California

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