Lead: Medication Availability for Alcohol Use Disorder in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities

Medication Availability for Alcohol Use Disorder in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities JAMA Network Open This study examined the availability of medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) in SUD treatment facilities (SUDTF) from 2017 to 2023.  Data was obtained from SAMSA’s Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Tracking Repository. The percentage of counties with a SUDTF offering MAUD increased from 34% in 2017 to 50% in 2021. This increase leveled out between 2021 and 2023 perhaps related to the pandemic. Counties with a MAUD-offering facility were more likely to be metropolitan (57% vs 25%, p<.001) with substantially more population (mean 220,100 vs 26,650, p<.001), and fewer uninsured residents (8.5% vs 10.7, p<.001).  They call for policies supporting MAUD-offering facilities, particularly in underserved counties.   Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly Visit ASAM