Lead: State-level racial and ethnic disparities in buprenorphine treatment duration in the United States

State-level racial and ethnic disparities in buprenorphine treatment duration in the United States  The American Journal on Addictions National trends reveal a concerning escalation in racial and ethnic disparities in buprenorphine treatment duration for opioid use disorder. This study examined such disparities at the state level. Analyzing 9,040,620 buprenorphine prescriptions dispensed between January 2011 and December 2020 from IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription data, the study revealed substantial statewide variations in racial and ethnic disparities. Specifically, 21 states showed longer treatment durations for White people across all episodes, and 8 states displayed similar trends among episodes lasting ≥180 days. Longer treatment durations for White people in both overall and long-term episodes were exhibited in 5 states, and 15 states showed no racial and ethnic disparities.   Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly Visit ASAM