Unfilled prescriptions: Surveying patients' experiences with buprenorphine treatment in Massachusetts before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Joseph A. Rosansky, Mark Albanese, Joshua Phillips, Zev Schuman‐Olivier- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
Abstract
Background and Objectives
We explored potential challenges to accessing office‐based opioid treatment (OBOT) with buprenorphine during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Methods
Using Facebook advertisements, we recruited a sample of N = 72 participants and conducted four repeated‐measures analysis of variance comparing ratings of participants' abilities to access aspects of OBOT treatment.
Results
Participants reported increased difficulty filling buprenorphine prescriptions during the pandemic than before, p = .011, partial η2 = 0.092, and this was correlated with past month opioid use, r = .236, p = .042.
Discussion, Conclusions, and Scientific Significance
This is the first investigation to report unfilled prescriptions during the pandemic and an association with opioid use. Unfilled prescriptions may contribute to relapse and partially explain increased overdose deaths during COVID‐19.