Comparing Spatial Accessibility Metrics for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Services

Keywords: health geography, CyberGIS, spatial analysis
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

The opioid epidemic has profoundly affected the United States, where access to authorized medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) is crucial in reducing drug abuse. However, comprehensive methods to evaluate this accessibility are lacking. Questions arise about how far people should be expected to travel, considering specific medication types (like methadone, buprenorphine, or Vivitrol) and their effects on treatment outcomes.

This paper compares various measures for assessing MOUD accessibility, including travel time to the nearest facility, counts within specified distances, and gravity-based (supply-demand) models, to identify effective criteria. Using a high-performance computing setup, we analyzed accessibility across the entire continental United States at the census tract level. For the similarity score, we used distance values among standard deviations. Findings indicated that metric selection could affect study results and that model compatibility varies with rurality and resource limitations. By applying a multi-dimensional accessibility analysis, this study helps identify areas that need targeted interventions and better resource distribution.