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Catalog
35th AM (2025) - Poster Session
Exploring OUD Barriers in Women By Revealing Self- ...
Exploring OUD Barriers in Women By Revealing Self-Perceived Obstacles in Receiving OUD Treatment...
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Pdf Summary
This study investigates self-perceived barriers faced by women with opioid use disorder (OUD) in accessing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), specifically buprenorphine (Suboxone), at an urban community mental health-based clinic implementing a low-barrier, medication-first model. OUD remains a significant public health issue, with over 2.7 million affected in the U.S. in 2020, women constituting 55.6% of this group. MOUD is effective in reducing relapse, morbidity, and mortality and improves maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, women encounter unique challenges accessing MOUD, including stigma, financial hardships, provider shortages, poor care coordination, appointment difficulties, fear of losing parental rights, and additional hurdles for those on Medicaid or within the criminal justice system.<br /><br />In a survey of 48 patients receiving buprenorphine treatment, 17 women (35%) responded to 16 statements on barriers to MOUD access. Key findings showed that over half of these women agreed that addiction specialists are insufficient in number (53%) and that there is inadequate focus on why many using drugs do not engage in treatment (71%). Additionally, nearly 59% highlighted a lack of sober living options accepting individuals on prescribed Suboxone.<br /><br />The results underscore significant gaps in treatment access and recovery supports, emphasizing the need to incorporate patient perspectives into policy and practice. Policy interventions like expanded Suboxone access have already demonstrated benefits, including a 10% decrease in overdose deaths. Further improvements involve legislative acts supporting mainstream addiction treatment, Medicaid reimbursement for screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), and focused efforts to increase access for incarcerated women and provide inclusive housing.<br /><br />Future emphasis should be on reducing stigma, enhancing provider cultural humility, improving systemic supports, and maintaining research to measure the long-term impact of these initiatives. Addressing these barriers is critical to improving engagement in MOUD and health outcomes for women with OUD.
Keywords
opioid use disorder
women with OUD
medication for opioid use disorder
buprenorphine
Suboxone
low-barrier medication-first model
treatment access barriers
stigma
provider shortages
policy interventions
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