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. 2011:2011:948789.
doi: 10.1155/2011/948789. Epub 2011 Jul 6.

Distance traveled and cross-state commuting to opioid treatment programs in the United States

Andrew Rosenblum  1 , Charles M Cleland, Chunki Fong, Deborah J Kayman, Barbara Tempalski, Mark Parrino
Affiliations

Distance traveled and cross-state commuting to opioid treatment programs in the United States

Andrew Rosenblum et al. J Environ Public Health. 2011.

Abstract

This study examined commuting patterns among 23,141 methadone patients enrolling in 84 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States. Patients completed an anonymous one-page survey. A linear mixed model analysis was used to predict distance traveled to the OTP. More than half (60%) the patients traveled < 10 miles and 6% travelled between 50 and 200 miles to attend an OTP; 8% travelled across a state border to attend an OTP. In the multivariate model (n = 17,792), factors significantly (P < .05) associated with distance were, residing in the Southeast or Midwest, low urbanicity, area of the patient's ZIP code, younger age, non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, prescription opioid abuse, and no heroin use. A significant number of OTP patients travel considerable distances to access treatment. To reduce obstacles to OTP access, policy makers and treatment providers should be alert to patients' commuting patterns and to factors associated with them.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of travel distance (n = 23,141).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) within the continental United States: study OTPs = 83; nonstudy OTPs = 1130. Since the map only represents the continental USA it does not include the study OTP in Alaska or nonstudy OTPs outside of the continental USA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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