Barriers rural physicians face prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder


  • Abstract

    Opioid use disorder is a serious public health problem. Management with buprenorphine is an effective, office-based, medication-assisted treatment, but 60.1% of rural counties in the United States lack a physician with a Drug Enforcement Agency waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. This national study surveyed all rural physicians who have received a waiver in the United States and found that those who were not actively prescribing buprenorphine reported significantly more barriers than those who were, regardless of whether they were treating the maximum number of patients their waiver allowed. These findings suggest the need for tailored strategies to address barriers to providing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and to support physicians who are adding or maintaining this service.


  • Authors:

    Andrilla CHA, Coulthard C, Larson EH

  • Journal/Publisher:

    Ann Fam Med

  • Edition:

    Jul 2017. 15(4):359-62

  • Link to Article

    Access the article here: Ann Fam Med

  • Citation:

    Andrilla CHA, Coulthard C, Larson EH. Barriers Rural Physicians Face Prescribing Buprenorphine For Opioid Use Disorder. Ann Fam Med. Jul 2017 15(4):359-62

  • Related Studies:

    Who Treats Opioid Addiction in Rural America? Quantifying the Availability of Buprenorphine Services in Rural Areas