Statewide Trends in Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Utilization in Rhode Island, United States, 2017-2023.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Buprenorphine and methadone are US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Although utilization of MOUD was increasing pre-COVID-19, it is not well understood how this trend shifted during and "after" the COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island. This analysis will consider the differential utilization of MOUD over time and by key demographic factors.

Methods

We utilized two of Rhode Island's statewide databases to examine aggregate counts of dispensed buprenorphine and methadone from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2023. Data were stratified by age group, sex assigned at birth, and race/ethnicity (where available). Counts were stratified into pre-COVID-19 (Q1 2017-Q1 2020), COVID-19 (Q2 2020-Q4 2022), and endemic COVID-19 (2023

SUBMITTER: Shaw LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12661415 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May-Jun 01

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature