Social Determinants of Health and 1-Year Buprenorphine Initiation Among Justice-Involved Veterans

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Opioid use disorder (OUD) significantly affects veterans, with justice-involved veterans (JIVs) facing higher rates and compounded challenges.
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Only 45% of veterans with OUD receive medications for OUD (MOUD), with even lower rates among JIVs at 27% and 34% for those with prior incarceration.
3

Social determinants of health (SDOH) such as financial hardship and unstable housing hinder treatment initiation and retention for veterans with OUD.
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The study utilized a nested case-control design to assess the association between SDOH and buprenorphine initiation among JIVs using VHA EHR data.
5

Identifying SDOH affecting buprenorphine initiation can help address treatment barriers and improve outcomes for veterans with OUD.

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