Around 78% of adults with Opioid Use Disorder lack addiction treatment access, while MAT disparities highlight hurdles for Black individuals. Merely 20% of the 2.5 million affected adults received medication-based treatment in 2021, revealing stark sociodemographic health inequalities. This underscores the pressing need to bridge care gaps and address disparities to curb the opioid crisis and save lives. Telehealth emerges as a powerful tool, boosting MAT access by 38 times and showcasing the potential to enhance treatment delivery.
Approximately 78% of adults suffering from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) are unable to access addiction treatment, and recent data has exposed disparities in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) availability, with Black individuals facing more significant obstacles compared to their White counterparts.
Fresh statistics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that only a mere fifth of the nearly 2.5 million adults affected by opioid use disorder received medication-based treatment in 2021. This leaves a substantial portion of the population without the necessary addiction support.
Published in JAMA Network Open as a research note, the report also underscores glaring health inequalities linked to sociodemographic factors concerning opioid use disorder treatment. The research points out that Black individuals, women, unemployed individuals, and those residing in non-metropolitan areas are less likely to receive treatment.
The study focused primarily on medication-assisted treatment (MAT), widely recognized as the most effective approach to OUD therapy. Medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone have all demonstrated their efficacy in OUD treatment, yet these treatments remain inaccessible to many who require them.
Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, emphasizes the safety and effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder, noting their potential to sustain recovery and prevent overdose fatalities.
Drawing from data obtained from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the researchers discovered that around 2.5 million adults above the age of 18 grappled with opioid use disorder in the past year. This is a concerning number, especially considering that 75% of the 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 were attributed to opioids.
Despite the escalating opioid crisis, the study indicates that many individuals are denied the essential care they need. In 2021, only about one-third of those with OUD received any form of treatment, with a mere 22% receiving MAT. This glaring gap in care underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
Dr. Volkow emphasizes the consequences of not utilizing safe and effective medications, as it not only perpetuates opioid use disorder but also exacerbates the overdose crisis and health disparities across communities.
Sociodemographic disparities play a significant role, with the data revealing that 59% of those who accessed MAT were men, 62% were over 35, 58% were White, and 58% lived in large metropolitan areas. Those benefiting from MAT were also more likely to have moderate to severe OUD, indicating the treatment’s efficacy for individuals with more severe conditions.
Unfortunately, Black individuals, women, unemployed individuals, and those in non-metropolitan areas have limited access to MAT. The disparities are stark, with Black individuals being 14 times less likely to access MAT compared to White individuals, while employed individuals are 14 times more likely to access MAT than the unemployed.
Addressing these disparities is crucial in the fight against drug overdose deaths, as highlighted by Dr. Christopher M. Jones, the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at CDC. He emphasizes that tackling health inequities and disparities is essential to reversing the upward trend of drug overdose fatalities, ensuring everyone has the opportunity for optimal health.
Interestingly, the mode of care access impacts access to opioid treatment. Those receiving substance use disorder treatment through telehealth were 38 times more likely to access MAT compared to other care delivery methods. This highlights the significance of telehealth in expanding patient access to evidence-based treatment, as noted by Dr. Wilson Compton, a deputy director of NIDA.
Overall, the data underscores the substantial gap in access to addiction treatment for individuals with OUD, along with disparities in MAT availability. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing these disparities to reduce drug overdose deaths and improve overall health outcomes.
