Key Points
Question Did buprenorphine-involved overdose deaths change after implementing prescribing flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Findings In this cross-sectional study including 74?474 opioid-involved overdose deaths, buprenorphine was involved in 2.6% of opioid-involved overdose deaths during July 2019 to June 2021. Although monthly opioid-involved overdose deaths increased, the proportion involving buprenorphine fluctuated but did not increase.
Meaning These findings suggest that actions to facilitate access to buprenorphine-based treatment for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic were not associated with an increased proportion of overdose deaths involving buprenorphine; efforts are needed to expand more equitable and culturally competent access to and provision of buprenorphine-based treatment.
