A new CDC study, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Buprenorphine Dispensed by Pharmacies and Administered in Emergency Departments in Urban and Rural Areas — United States, 2019–2025 show progress in expanding access to treatment, while also identifying continued opportunities to help more people start and stay in care including strengthening pharmacy availability.
The study found that:
Buprenorphine dispensing from retail pharmacies rose from 2019–2021, then declined through 2025; overall dispensing rates remained higher in rural counties than in urban counties.
Emergency department (ED) buprenorphine administration and adoption increased in both urban and rural settings, but ED adoption remained substantially lower in rural counties. In 2025, 31.4% of urban EDs and 10.3% of rural EDs met the study definition for buprenorphine adoption.
Additional efforts are needed to expand access to buprenorphine in both urban and rural counties, including office-based prescribing and ED initiation or administration. Efforts to improve access can include:
- Strengthening pharmacy availability.
- Helping more health care providers offer buprenorphine treatment while reducing barriers for patients.
- Supporting ED-based buprenorphine administration, particularly in rural settings.
- Addressing prescriber workforce gaps.
- Maintaining telehealth flexibilities reduce barriers to care.