Racial and geographical disparities in medication-assisted treatment completion for individuals with opioid use disorder in the Appalachian region

The opioid crisis is devastating people’s health across the United States, taking their free will and their lives. Through the approval of OxyContin to the mix of fentanyl with other substances, opioids have a stronghold on the American people, affecting any individual who may cross paths with it. In this study, I aimed to highlight the disparities in medication-assisted treatment completion so that future studies can target barriers that these individuals are most affected by in the epidemic. This study employed a national data set, given by SAMHSA, to examine the current landscape of opioid use and treatment completion. Analysis of the sample illuded to necessary research into racial and geographic disparities. Compared to non-Hispanic White individuals, minority individuals have less of a chance of completing treatment across all setting types. Also, individuals who live in states outside of the Appalachian region are almost three times more likely to complete medication-assisted treatment than the individuals who live within the region. This explicitly shows the necessary research into why there are racial disparities and why they continue to persist. Rural America struggles with treatment completion due to a multitude of reasons, including long distances to a treatment facility and provider to patient low ratios. Policy change surrounding treatment providers is necessary to help these affected individuals. Analysis of treatment completion in the detoxification, rehabilitation/residential, and ambulatory settings revealed some consistencies with previous studies and some conflicting results. The results from the variables gender and age presented evidence that is debated by other studies. The variable length of stay showed that the longer an individual remains in treatment, the more of a chance the individual has of completing treatment. Overall, the treatment completion rate across the nation is low. More research is necessary to diminish disparities, especially racial and geographic disparities. The most recent data (2020) should be explored and compared to studies like this one to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the landscape of the opioid crisis and response.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Diana Elizabeth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kang, Hyojung

• Opioid Use Disorder
• Appalachia
• Medication-assisted Treatment
• Racial Disparities
• Geographical Disparities
• Opioids
• Treatment Completion

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Diana Brown

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120305

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F120305