Expanding access to low‐barrier opioid use disorder treatment in non‐traditional settings: Washington's opioid treatment network

Key Points

• The aim is to evaluate how Washington's Opioid Treatment Network supports buprenorphine prescribing in rural settings.
• Assessment of buprenorphine utilization across various regions in Washington.
• Comparison of rural and micropolitan areas regarding treatment access and opioid use disorder (OUD) prevalence.
• Analysis of prescribing patterns in response to demand for OUD treatment.
• Buprenorphine utilization remained consistent in most rural areas despite OUD demand increases.
• Micropolitan areas showed discrepancies in treatment access compared to small towns.
• The network illustrates a viable strategy to enhance opioid treatment accessibility.