County and Demographic Differences in Drug Arrests and Controlled Substance Use in Maine

Hyde, Trajan F.; Bekoe-Tabiri, Amadea D.; Lopez, Amalie K. Kropp; Devia, Luis G.; Gutierrez, Belsy D.; Lara, Matthew C.; Soto, Anthony R.; Kaufman, Daniel E.; Moran, Matthew T.; Simpson, K.H.; Shah, Dipam T.; Foster, Michelle; Desrosiers, Clare; Hebert, J. R.; Nichols, Stephanie D.; McCall, Kenneth L.; Piper, Brian J.

doi:10.46804/2641-2225.1074

Cited by 6 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…This study suggests the importance of policy change as it is apparent there is a pressing need for additional access to OUD therapy, specifically methadone treatment, in the US. Over 400,000 people in the US received methadone from an OTP prepandemic, 2019, with over 90% located in urban areas, making it challenging for rural patients to make the daily trip to receive their medication (The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2021;Hyde et al, 2021). SAMHSA released guidelines in March 2020 allowing the regulatory authorities of all states to request blanket exceptions to allow OTP patients to take home doses of methadone and buprenorphine (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The paucity of methadone OTPs across rural states like Wyoming (253k km 2 ), South Dakota (200k km 2 ), and Nebraska (200 km 2 ) is an important finding. However, prior research found that another rural state, Maine, which ranked tenth in the US, had three-OTPs in a single thirty-thousand-person city (Bangor) and none in other areas in northern Maine [49]. The non-homogenous distribution within states should also be a concern for policy makers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reversal of increases in methadone distribution for opioid use disorder in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kennalley

Furst

Mynarski

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Objectives: To identify US prescription trends in methadone distribution for OUD from 2010 to 2020. Methods: The weight of methadone in grams distributed to OTPs per state was derived from the US Drug Enforcement Administration's Automated Reports and Consolidated Ordering System. Methadone was adjusted for state population and compared across all fifty states and Washington DC from 2010 to 2020. Results: The overall distribution of methadone to OTPs significantly (P < 0.0001) increased from 2010 to 2019 (+61.0%) and from 2015 to 2020 (+26.22%). The states with the highest percent change from 2010 to 2020 were Montana (+897.02%), Alaska (+421.11%), and Vermont (+353.67%). In contrast with prior increase of distribution, from 2019 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic) to 2020 (during pandemic), there was no significant change in the distribution of methadone to OTPs (-0.09%). Ohio (+26.02%) significantly increased while Alabama (-21.96%), New Hampshire (-24.13%) and Florida (-28.97%) significantly decreased methadone relative to the national mean. Conclusions: This investigation revealed two trends related to methadone distribution in the US: increased utilization over the past decade and a plateau in utilization from 2019 to 2020. Policies are needed to remove access barriers to methadone treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to reduce the worsening crisis of opioid overdoses in the US.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversal of increases in methadone distribution for opioid use disorder in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kennalley

Furst

Mynarski

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An explanation for this phenomenon may be the fact that methadone was approved for use by the FDA in 1972 and urban populations were the first to prescribe methadone (19). The observed geographical disparities could reflect greater availability of methadone from narcotic treatment programs that are typically located in more urban areas (20,21) whereas buprenorphine is available from primary care providers. In Philadelphia, it was demonstrated that areas with the lowest access to primary care had higher concentrations of non-Hispanic blacks and a lower median household income, compared to areas of higher access to primary care (22).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional differences in buprenorphine distribution in Pennsylvania from 2010-2020

Mileto

Rinaldi

Grampp

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid frequently used in combination with naloxone for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Overall buprenorphine distribution has increased nationally; however, pronounced regional differences in this distribution have also been identified. The objective of this study was to analyze buprenorphine distribution by three-digit zip codes in Pennsylvania from 2010-2020. Methods Data was extracted from the Drug Enforcement Administrations Automated Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) yearly to gather buprenorphine distribution, in grams per 3-digit zip code, from 2010-2020. After compiling this data, a percent change for each 3-digit zip code was calculated to analyze the change in distribution from 2010-2020. The total weight of buprenorphine distributed for the state of Pennsylvania over the last decade was calculated. The amount of buprenorphine distributed in grams per each 3-digit zip code was compared to their population densities to analyze if there was any association between population and buprenorphine distribution. Zip codes that were outside of a 95% confidence interval were considered significant (p < .05). Results Pennsylvania pharmacies and hospitals dispensed 116.3 kg of buprenorphine in 2010. That number increased 217.3% to 369.0 kg in 2020. The 155-zip code (Somerset) experienced the largest increase (885%). In contrast the 190-zip (Philadelphia) experienced the smallest increase (79%). The 155 (Somerset), 169 (Wellsboro), and 177 (Williamsport) zip codes experienced significantly greater elevations relative to the state average. Conclusion Our analysis uncovered that buprenorphine distribution in Pennsylvania from 2010-2020 rose 217%. With the increasing awareness of opioid addiction, and the large number of opioid prescriptions in the US, this increase was expected. The zip codes of 155, 169, 177 showed a statistically significant increase in buprenorphine distribution relative to the overall state average. No zip codes displayed a statistically significant decrease in buprenorphine distribution. Interestingly, some of the more densely populated areas in Pennsylvania were at or below the average state increase of 217% (Pittsburgh 150-152: 228%; Philadelphia 190-191: 79%; Harrisburg 170-171: 202%). Furthermore, the statistically significant zip codes of 155, 169, and 177 were among the least densely populated areas of Pennsylvania. Further pharmacoepidemiological research is needed to continue to characterize, and ideally remediate, the pronounced regional variation in buprenorphine distribution.

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“…The Guthrie Journal non may be the fact that methadone was approved for use by the FDA in 1972, and urban populations were the first to prescribe methadone. 18 The observed geographical disparities could reflect greater availability of methadone from narcotic treatment programs that are typically located in more urban areas, 19,20 whereas buprenorphine is available from primary care providers. In Philadelphia, it was demonstrated that areas with the lowest access to primary care had higher concentrations of non-Hispanic Black individuals and lower median household incomes compared to areas of higher access to primary care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional differences in buprenorphine distribution in Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2020

Mileto

Rinaldi

Grampp

et al. 2022

The Guthrie Journal

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Background Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid frequently used in combination with naloxone for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Overall buprenorphine distribution has increased nationally; however, pronounced regional differences in this distribution have also been identified. The objective of this study was to analyze buprenorphine distribution by 3-digit zip codes in Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2020. Methods Data was extracted from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automated Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) by year to gather buprenorphine distribution, in grams per 3-digit zip code, from 2010 to 2020. After compiling this data, a percent change for each 3-digit zip code was calculated to analyze the change in distribution from 2010 to 2020. The total weight of buprenorphine distributed for the state of Pennsylvania over the last decade was calculated. The amount of buprenorphine distributed in grams per each 3-digit zip code was compared to their population densities to analyze if there was any association between population and buprenorphine distribution. Zip codes that were outside of a 95% confidence interval were considered significant (P < .05). Results Pennsylvania pharmacies and hospitals dispensed 116.3 kg of buprenorphine in 2010. That number increased 217.3% to 369.0 kg in 2020. The 155 (Somerset) zip code experienced the largest increase (885%). In contrast, the 190 (Philadelphia) zip code experienced the smallest increase (79%). The 155 (Somerset), 169 (Wellsboro), and 177 (Williamsport) zip codes experienced significantly greater elevations relative to the state average. Conclusion Our analysis uncovered that buprenorphine distribution in Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2020 rose 217%. With the increasing awareness of opioid addiction and the large number of opioid prescriptions in the US, this increase was expected. The zip codes of 155 (Somerset), 169 (Wellsboro), and 177 (Williamsport) showed a statistically significant increase in buprenorphine distribution relative to the overall state average. No zip codes displayed a statistically significant decrease in buprenorphine distribution. Interestingly, some of the more densely populated areas in Pennsylvania were at or below the average state increase of 217%: zip codes 150-152 (Pittsburgh), 228%; 190 (Philadelphia), 79%; 170-171 (Harrisburg), 202%. Furthermore, the statistically significant zip codes of 155 (Somerset), 169 (Wellsboro), and 177 (Williamsport) were among the least densely populated areas of Pennsylvania. Further pharmacoepidemiological research is needed to continue to characterize, and ideally remediate, the pronounced regional variation in buprenorphine distribution.

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County and Demographic Differences in Drug Arrests and Controlled Substance Use in Maine

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Reversal of increases in methadone distribution for opioid use disorder in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic

Reversal of increases in methadone distribution for opioid use disorder in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic

Regional differences in buprenorphine distribution in Pennsylvania from 2010-2020

Regional differences in buprenorphine distribution in Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2020

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