Disparities in Buprenorphine Administration for Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department
Recommended Citation
Koerber SN, Huynh D, Farrington S, Springer K, and Manteuffel J. Disparities in Buprenorphine Administration for Opioid use Disorder in the Emergency Department. J Addict Med 2024.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2025
Publication Title
J Addict Med
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Although buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), this treatment is often not universally provided in the emergency department (ED). We aimed to determine whether patient characteristics, particularly race and ethnicity, were associated with buprenorphine administration.
METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of adult patients who had a positive screening result for opioid misuse in the ED at a single urban hospital. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the association of patient characteristics (race, ethnicity, age, sex, insurance type, and Area Deprivation Index) with buprenorphine administration.
RESULTS: Of 1082 patients who screened positive for opioid misuse, 133 (12%) were treated with buprenorphine and 949 (88%) were not. Despite representing over half the patient sample, Black patients (n = 682) were less likely than White patients (n = 310) to be treated with buprenorphine (multivariable: OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.35-0.88; P = 0.023). Age, sex, insurance type, ethnicity, and Area Deprivation Index were not associated with buprenorphine administration.
CONCLUSIONS: Patient race was associated with buprenorphine administration, even after controlling for multiple other social determinants of health. These data suggest racial disparities in care that should be investigated through further research to optimize equitable administration of buprenorphine.
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Buprenorphine; Male; Female; Opioid-Related Disorders; Emergency Service, Hospital; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Healthcare Disparities; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Middle Aged; Narcotic Antagonists; White People; Black or African American
PubMed ID
39514889
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
Volume
19
Issue
1
First Page
89
Last Page
94
