Barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorder among rural individuals
Access barriers vary by MOUD type for rural individuals with OUD. Compared to sublingual buprenorphine, methadone access was hindered more by transportation difficulties, while injectable long-acting buprenorphine was hindered more by affordability and finding a doctor or program. These barriers highlight the need to de-regulate and expand locations for methadone access and prescribing, and to improve affordability and prescriber uptake of newer MOUDs, such as injectable buprenorphine.
Authors
- Thomas J. Stopka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2314-8924)
- David W. Seal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5802-7148)
- Joseph A. Delaney (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1771-1776)
- Gordon S. Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2911-3071)
- Judith Feinberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4206-7214)
- Wiley D. Jenkins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6389-0421)
- P. Todd Korthuis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5556-3597)
- Peter D. Friedmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3585-3604)
- William A. Zule (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6781-1030)
- L. Sarah Mixson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5149-8859)
- Ryan P. Westergaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5701-4516)
- Vivian F. Go (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4828-6880)
- Heidi M. Crane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3308-7005)
- William C. Miller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1934-7827)
- Judith I. Tsui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0877-5399)
- Anna M. Morenz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4236-0210)
- Robin M. Nance (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4412-4844)
- Laura C. Fanucchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0582-2399)
- Mai T. Pho
Institutions
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Tulane University (US)
- West Virginia University (US)
- Tufts University (US)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- RTI International (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- University Press of Kentucky (US)
- University of Chicago (US)
- Baystate Health (US)
- Clemson University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Drug Policy
- Published
- 2025-04-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104805
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 16.91
Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Australian Research Council
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases