Addiction treatment clinics more common in counties where different racial groups interact less

A new study suggests that addiction treatment facilities are more common in communities where different racial groups interact less. In the study, researchers looked at clinics that provided buprenorphine or methadone — both medication-assisted treatments for addiction — in 3,100 U.S. counties. They also looked at what's known as the index of interaction, or the probability that a member of one racial group would encounter someone from another. There were fewer methadone facilities in counties where Black or Hispanic residents were more likely to interact with white residents. However, in counties with a lower likelihood of white individuals interacting with Black individuals, there were far more facilities offering buprenorphine than in counties with higher rates of interaction. The scientists behind the study said there's a need to make sure there is equal access to the medications across all communities.